Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crowned one of the best individual seasons in the NBA history by accompanying the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Competition Championship and to be named the MVP of the final as their victory over Indiana in Game 7.
Gilgeous -Alexander is only the fourth player – and the first since Shaquille O’Neal – in 2000 – to earn the score title and competition and final MVP awards in the same season.
“This is not just a victory for me -this is a victory for my family, this is a victory for my friends, this is a victory for everyone who grew up in my corner, this is a victory for the fans, the best fans in the world,” said Gilgeous -Alexander after he had taken the trophy home in the Paycom center.
The 103-91 victory over the Pacers brought the franchise their first title since the move from Seattle in 2008.
It also gave fans exactly what they were dreaming of since the Los Angeles Clippers the promising point guard to Oklahoma City for his second season six years ago.
The key figure behind the rebuilding of the franchise, he lifted the Thunder last year in the late season after three straight-losing seasons for his breathtaking campaign of 2024-25.
On average 32.7 points at 51.9% shoot from the floor with 6.4 assists and five rebounds per match, the 26-year-old Canadian led the Young Thunder team to a record of 68-14, good for the fifth victories in an NBA season.
“We absolutely have room to grow and that is the nice thing about this. So many of us can still get better,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters.
“It is not very much of us in the team who are quote-un-Quote in our prime or even in the neighborhood. We have a lot of room to grow individually and as a group and I am enthusiastic about the future of this team.”
Reuters
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