In a season defined by dominance, consistency, and brilliance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially been crowned the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar becomes the first player in franchise history to win the award since the team relocated from Seattle, and the first overall since Kevin Durant in 2014. For Gilgeous-Alexander, this recognition is not just a validation of a single spectacular season—it is the culmination of years of growth, resilience, and relentless work ethic that transformed him from a promising rookie into the face of a championship-contending franchise.
At just 26 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder to new heights, guiding one of the youngest rosters in the league to a top seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Averaging 31.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game, Shai’s statistical output only scratches the surface of his impact. He has been a model of consistency, missing just a handful of games while maintaining elite efficiency on both ends of the court. Shooting 53.2% from the field, 37.8% from three, and 89.6% from the free-throw line, Gilgeous-Alexander proved to be one of the most unguardable players in the league, while also anchoring a top-10 defensive unit.
But to truly appreciate this MVP season, one must look beyond the box score. What makes Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise so compelling is the path he took to get here. Drafted 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018 and immediately traded to the Clippers, he showed promise in his rookie season before being dealt to Oklahoma City in the blockbuster Paul George trade. At the time, he was a talented young guard with upside. Today, he is arguably the best two-way guard in the NBA and now, officially, its Most Valuable Player.
What separates Shai from his peers is his cerebral approach to the game. A master of pace, timing, and footwork, he doesn’t overwhelm defenders with raw athleticism. Instead, he lulls them into his rhythm, reading the floor like a chess grandmaster. Whether it’s a smooth hesitation into a mid-range pull-up or a crafty eurostep through traffic, Gilgeous-Alexander’s game is poetry in motion. His ability to control tempo and dictate the flow of the offense has elevated everyone around him, including co-stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, who both enjoyed breakout seasons of their own under Shai’s leadership.
While his offensive game is elite, what truly solidified his MVP case was his work on the defensive end. Shai consistently drew the toughest perimeter assignments and thrived. His anticipation, quick hands, and length made him a nightmare for opposing guards. Finishing second in the NBA in total steals, he turned defense into offense with ease, sparking fast breaks and transition opportunities for one of the most athletic teams in the league. He was not only the heart and soul of the Thunder’s offense but also the engine behind their defensive identity.
The Thunder, once thought to be years away from contention, have shattered expectations behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership. Many expected the young squad to show signs of growth, but few predicted a 60-win campaign and a legitimate push for the NBA Finals. With Shai leading the way, Oklahoma City played a beautiful brand of basketball—fast-paced, unselfish, and fearless. Whether facing veteran-heavy squads like the Nuggets and Warriors or upstart rivals like the Timberwolves and Pelicans, the Thunder stood tall, never backing down. And more often than not, it was their MVP who rose to the occasion in the biggest moments.
Signature games defined Shai’s MVP résumé. In a January showdown with the defending champion Denver Nuggets, he dropped 45 points, dished 8 assists, and sealed the game with a clutch steal and transition dunk. In March, with playoff seeding on the line, he torched the Lakers for 38 points and hit a buzzer-beater in overtime that sent Paycom Center into a frenzy. These weren’t just statistical feats—they were proof of a player who relished the spotlight and never shied away from pressure.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s journey to MVP was never guaranteed. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, he was lightly recruited out of high school and didn’t garner much attention until he broke out at Kentucky under John Calipari. Even then, some scouts questioned his ceiling at the next level. But those doubts only fueled his fire. Each season, he returned stronger, more refined, and more determined. His offseason training regimens became the stuff of legend. Whether it was adding strength, refining his jumper, or improving his decision-making, Shai attacked every area of his game with surgical focus.
The MVP vote itself was a testament to his wide-reaching impact. Gilgeous-Alexander received 83 out of 100 first-place votes, beating out fellow finalists Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo. While all three enjoyed dominant campaigns, Shai’s blend of scoring, defense, leadership, and team success ultimately pushed him over the top. The voting also marked a symbolic changing of the guard—while Jokić and Giannis represent the dominant MVPs of the early 2020s, Shai’s win signals the dawn of a new era in the NBA.
Perhaps what’s most remarkable about Gilgeous-Alexander is his humility. Despite the accolades, he remains grounded and team-first. In his MVP acceptance speech, Shai thanked his teammates, coaches, and the city of Oklahoma City before ever mentioning his own achievements. He spoke about the long practices, the quiet moments in the gym, and the belief that this young Thunder team could compete with anyone. He also dedicated the award to his family, particularly his mother, Charmaine, and father, Vaughn, who helped shape his discipline and mindset from a young age.
Beyond the court, Shai has also become a cultural icon. Known for his fashion-forward style, quiet confidence, and sharp intelligence, he’s become a fan favorite not only in Oklahoma City but across the basketball world. His jersey sales rank among the league’s highest, and his presence on social media is both stylish and understated—mirroring his demeanor on the court. Kids across the world now try to mimic his patented step-through drives and midrange mastery, and in Canada, he’s being celebrated as the country’s greatest basketball export since Steve Nash.
With the MVP trophy now secured, the next chapter begins: championship contention. Gilgeous-Alexander has already led Oklahoma City to its best season in over a decade, but both he and the Thunder are hungry for more. As the playoffs loom, expectations are sky-high. With a balanced, youthful roster and one of the NBA’s best coaches in Mark Daigneault, the Thunder have all the ingredients to make a deep postseason run. And at the center of it all is a newly crowned MVP who refuses to be satisfied with individual accolades.
For fans in Oklahoma City, this moment is both a reward and a promise. A reward for years of patience, for enduring the rebuild, for supporting a team through its lowest valleys. And a promise that their franchise has found its next great superstar—one capable of leading them to the mountaintop. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just the MVP of the league; he’s the MVP of a movement, of a belief that greatness can be built brick by brick, and that the future belongs to those bold enough to seize it.
As the regular season gives way to the playoffs, the eyes of the basketball world will remain fixed on No. 2 in OKC. Because with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, anything is possible. And as this MVP season has shown, the best may still be yet to come.
