Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Canadian point guard, quickly earned a starting role in the NBA after being drafted 11th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers at age 20. While he navigated his rookie season with a learner’s permit and relied on teammates or Uber for transportation, he faced unexpected challenges when traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder, in a rebuilding phase, struggled in the following seasons, but Gilgeous-Alexander persevered.
This season marked a turning point for Gilgeous-Alexander, as he was recognized during a significant accolade—being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). He achieved remarkable averages with 32.7 points, 7.9 free-throw attempts, and 21.8 shot attempts per game, leading the Thunder to a franchise-record 68 victories and securing the top seed in the Western Conference for a second consecutive season. He secured 71 first-place votes and a total of 913 points from a panel of 100 media voters, outpacing Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who earned second place with 787 points.
In the playoffs, the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016 and are aiming for their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. Although the franchise has a championship title from its days as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, it has yet to win since moving to Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander joins Steve Nash as the only Canadian MVP winners, highlighting the trend of recent MVPs being international players. Praised by Jokic for his unique skill set and defensive prowess, Gilgeous-Alexander’s ascent marks a significant achievement in his young career.
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