NBA news: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crowned MVP after historic season
Canadian guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, makes history with his first MVP award, cementing his status as the league’s elite.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo reflects on his spectacular season.
A season to remember
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially been named the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player, a well-earned recognition following a remarkable season where he not only led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the league’s best record but also established himself as one of the most complete players in the game.
At just 26 years old, the Canadian guard delivered an extraordinary campaign, averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
He shot an efficient 51.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range.
Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance helped the Thunder finish the regular season with a league-best 68 wins, claiming the top seed in the Western Conference and setting an NBA record for point differential at plus-12.9 per game.
As the playoffs progress, Oklahoma City already hold a 1-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.
Breaking records, making history
The MVP award adds Gilgeous-Alexander to an exclusive list. He becomes only the second Canadian to win the NBA’s top individual honour, following Steve Nash.
He also continues a striking trend in the league.
With his victory, international-born players have now won the MVP for seven consecutive seasons. The streak includes Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), and Joel Embiid (Cameroon).
The last American-born winner was James Harden in 2018.
Statistically, Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in 20-point games (73), 30-point games (49), and 40-point games (13). He scored at least 20 points in 72 straight games.
Only Michael Jordan has previously matched his combination of production and efficiency across scoring, playmaking, and defence.
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Defining leadership and culture
Beyond the stats, Gilgeous-Alexander’s influence on his team was profound. His leadership resonated throughout the organisation and locker room.
Following his MVP announcement, he made a heartfelt speech at the Thunder’s practice facility, surrounded by his teammates who wore Rolex watches he had gifted them as a thank-you gesture.
During the emotional speech, he expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaching staff, training crew, childhood friends, and especially his family.
The 26-year-old credited his father for putting a basketball in his hands, honoured his mother’s sacrifices, and acknowledged the support of his partner, Hailey Summers, and their son, Aries.
“I always thought that I could be a really good player because I had seen what putting your head down and working can do for you,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“But I never thought this was going to happen. As a kid, it felt like a fake dream. But with each step closer, it gets real. And that feeling is hard to describe.”
An MVP season in numbers
Gilgeous-Alexander earned 71 of 100 first-place votes. Jokic, who finished as runner-up, received the remaining 29.
Giannis Antetokounmpo came in third, followed by Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, and LeBron James, who received MVP votes for the 20th time in his storied 22-year career.
Despite Jokic averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, Gilgeous-Alexander’s all-around impact and team success stood above.
Oklahoma City won 18 more games than the Denver Nuggets and outlasted them in a dramatic seven-game series in the Western Conference semifinals.
Gilgeous-Alexander also ranked among the league’s best defenders with 208 combined steals and blocks, trailing only Victor Wembanyama and Dyson Daniels.
His offensive production matched that of historic greats.
Only Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Antetokounmpo have averaged 30 points on over 50 percent shooting for three straight seasons, all of whom won multiple MVPs.
Looking ahead
Already a two-time All-NBA First Team selection, Gilgeous-Alexander is now eligible for a record-setting four-year, $294 million supermax extension this summer.
If signed, it would be the most lucrative annual contract in league history at $73.3 million per season.
The Canadian becomes the third player in Oklahoma City Thunder history to win the MVP, joining Kevin Durant (2014) and Russell Westbrook (2017).
His season, however, might be the most well-rounded in franchise history, balancing scoring, defence, efficiency, leadership, and team success.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to MVP status is a testament to talent, hard work, and belief.
From humble beginnings in Canada to the NBA’s highest individual honour, he has delivered a campaign that will be remembered for years.
More than just numbers, he has shown what it means to lead, to inspire, and to elevate everyone around him.
His MVP trophy is not just a reward, it is a symbol of a player who has truly arrived.
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