From Hamilton To Nba History: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes Nba History With Unmatched Mvp Season
The 26-year-old Canadian guard led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA title since the team moved from Seattle and became the first player ever to win the league’s Most Valuable Player, Scoring Title, Western Conference Finals MVP, and Finals MVP in a single season.
In the decisive Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 29 points and 12 assists, powering OKC to a 103–91 win. His clutch performance throughout the playoffs capped off what many are calling one of the most complete and dominant individual campaigns the league has ever seen.
A New Standard of Greatness
While legends like Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal have each pulled off the rare trifecta of MVP, scoring champion, and Finals MVP in a single season, none did it with a Conference Finals MVP added to the mix; a newer accolade introduced in 2022. Gilgeous-Alexander is now the first player to collect all four honors in the same year.
Throughout the regular season, he averaged 32.7 points per game; making him the league’s top scorer and the first Canadian to ever win the NBA scoring title. His consistency, versatility, and leadership helped OKC become one of the league’s most complete teams.
Pride from Hamilton to the World
Back in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, the significance of his run wasn’t lost on fans. For Gilgeous-Alexander’s father, Vaughan Alexander, the championship and MVP honors brought back years of memories; driving to tournaments, celebrating wins, and growing through losses. Speaking to CBC, he described the moment as a spiritual one: “I just feel blessed. We worked so hard for this, and it’s a dream come true.”
A Humble Champion
Despite the historic season, Gilgeous-Alexander remains grounded. In his post-game comments, he emphasized the team’s collective effort.
“There were so many long nights, moments of doubt, moments of belief; but we stayed with it,” he said. “This group worked for everything. We earned this.”
More Than a Title
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2024–2025 season represents more than individual dominance. It’s a milestone for Canadian basketball, a benchmark for modern guard play, and a reminder of how far vision, work ethic, and community can take you.
And if this was just the beginning, the league should take notice. SGA is here to stay.
Photo Credits: Joshua Gateley
Quotes taken from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-shai-gilgeous-alexander-mvp-1.7569205
