After years of steadily rising through the NBA ranks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially arrived at the summit. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard was crowned the 2024–25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, capping off a historic season that saw him dominate both ends of the floor and lead OKC to the league’s best record.
Gilgeous-Alexander, often known simply as SGA, edged out Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the MVP race. It’s the 26-year-old’s first MVP award—and it’s well deserved. Not only did he average a blistering 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, but he also made history by becoming the first player since James Harden in 2018–19 to record 75 games with at least 20 points, 49 with 30 points, 13 with 40, and four with 50.
More Than Just Numbers: A Season of Milestones
SGA’s year was about much more than just stats. He was the driving force behind a Thunder team that went 68–14, tied for the sixth-best record in NBA history. OKC didn’t just win—they dominated—outscoring opponents by a league-record 12.9 points per game.
What sets Gilgeous-Alexander apart is his consistency. After an 18-point outing back in October, he went on a scorching run of 72 straight games with 20 or more points—a feat not seen since Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson were rewriting record books in the 1960s.
Efficiency was another highlight. The Canadian shot 51.9% from the field, 37.5% from deep, and nearly 90% from the free-throw line, joining Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average 32+ points and 6+ assists on 50% shooting in a season.
Legacy in the Making
SGA is now the third MVP winner in Thunder history, joining Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. He’s also the second Canadian to ever win the award, after Steve Nash. It’s a massive moment for basketball north of the border—and a sign that the next generation is already here.
Though the MVP trophy is a personal accolade, Gilgeous-Alexander made sure to shout out his teammates. “None of this is possible without the guys behind me,” he told TNT. “The way we won games this season—that’s the real reason I’m up here.”
With Oklahoma City leading the Western Conference Finals 1–0 over Minnesota, there’s still more history to be made. And if SGA keeps playing like this, don’t be surprised if there’s a Finals MVP coming soon, too.
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