Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands on the brink of history. With just one more win, he could not only deliver Oklahoma City its first NBA championship since 1979 but also accomplish what no University of Kentucky player ever has—capture the elusive Finals MVP trophy. For a program as storied and successful as Kentucky’s, with a lineage of NBA talent as deep as any in college basketball, that’s a shocking stat in itself. But even more eye-catching is the possibility that Gilgeous-Alexander could etch his name alongside some of the all-time greats by becoming the first player in over a decade to win both the regular-season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. The last to do it? LeBron James, during his electrifying run with the Miami Heat in 2013.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to this point has been anything but conventional. A relatively unheralded prospect coming out of high school, he didn’t arrive at Kentucky with the same fanfare as some of his blue-blooded predecessors. Yet it was in Lexington where he first started showing signs of the poise, creativity, and fearlessness that have come to define his NBA game. Under John Calipari, Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed into a steady floor general, playing with maturity beyond his years. He wasn’t the Wildcats’ highest scorer or flashiest player, but he was often their most dependable. That foundational season laid the groundwork for what’s become one of the most captivating development arcs in modern basketball.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the Canadian-born guard has gone from a raw, lanky combo guard to the engine powering a youthful, explosive, and resurgent Thunder squad. With Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, Oklahoma City has defied expectations all season, emerging from a crowded Western Conference to reach the Finals against a battle-tested Boston Celtics team. The series has delivered fireworks at every turn, but it’s been Shai who has consistently shined the brightest. Through sheer will, surgical precision, and cold-blooded confidence, he’s turned the Finals into his own personal stage.
Over the first four games, Gilgeous-Alexander has put up gaudy numbers: 31.2 points per game, 7.1 assists, 6.4 rebounds, and a defensive presence that has disrupted Boston’s rhythm time and again. He’s scored efficiently, picking his spots with a mix of midrange magic and aggressive drives to the rim. Perhaps even more impressive has been his composure. Against a defense featuring multiple All-NBA-caliber stoppers, Gilgeous-Alexander has remained unbothered, letting the game come to him while delivering in high-leverage moments. No possession ever feels wasted. Every move feels deliberate. He is playing chess when others are playing checkers.
To understand the magnitude of what’s at stake, it helps to revisit the rarity of this potential dual MVP feat. Since the NBA began awarding the Finals MVP in 1969, only 11 players have won both the regular-season and Finals MVPs in the same season. It’s a list packed with immortals—Jordan, Shaq, Hakeem, Bird, Magic, and of course, LeBron. To do it, a player must dominate from October through June, carry the expectations of a franchise, and rise to the moment under the brightest lights. Gilgeous-Alexander has done all that and more.
The Thunder’s run to the Finals has been one of the season’s most compelling storylines. Built through savvy drafting, player development, and a commitment to culture, Oklahoma City has transformed from post-Westbrook rebuild into a legitimate juggernaut. But even with all their pieces—from Chet Holmgren’s emergence to Jalen Williams’ two-way brilliance—it’s been Gilgeous-Alexander who has set the tone. His leadership, both vocal and by example, has kept the team grounded and hungry.
What makes Gilgeous-Alexander’s journey especially compelling is how he’s done it on his own terms. In a league often obsessed with three-point shooting and positionless basketball, he has thrived with an old-school feel—crafty footwork, deceptive change of pace, and an ability to control tempo. He doesn’t overwhelm with athleticism or shoot 10 threes a night. Instead, he probes, calculates, and pounces. He draws fouls like a seasoned vet and finishes in traffic with flair and finesse. His game is as cerebral as it is physical, and it’s proven nearly impossible to stop.
Beyond the individual accolades, there’s a broader significance to what Shai could accomplish. Kentucky has sent a staggering number of players to the NBA under Calipari, with multiple All-Stars and even an MVP in Anthony Davis. Yet, none have captured Finals MVP—a hole in the legacy that Gilgeous-Alexander could finally fill. His performance isn’t just about personal glory—it’s about validation for a program known for producing pros, but not always postseason heroes.
The potential impact on Canadian basketball can’t be ignored either. As the leader of a new wave of Canadian stars—alongside Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, and Andrew Nembhard—Gilgeous-Alexander’s coronation would be a watershed moment. For a country that has made massive strides on the global basketball stage, having its native son claim the NBA’s two highest individual honors in one season would be historic.
As Game 5 looms, the anticipation is palpable. The Thunder are on the cusp of something special, and so is Gilgeous-Alexander. For all his brilliance this season, this moment may be the one that truly defines his legacy. Can he close it out? Can he outduel Boston one last time and bring a title to a franchise that has waited over four decades?
Critics have tried to poke holes in his game all season. Some questioned whether his midrange-heavy approach could hold up in the playoffs. Others wondered whether the Thunder were too young, too inexperienced to navigate the crucible of a championship run. Gilgeous-Alexander has answered those doubts emphatically. He’s done so with humility, intensity, and a work ethic that commands respect.
If the Thunder seal the deal, there will be no debate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the 2025 NBA Finals MVP. He will join LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan in the club of double MVP winners. And in doing so, he will change the narrative not only around himself but around what’s possible for players who don’t follow the typical superstar path. No superteam. No No. 1 overall pick status. Just hard work, evolution, and an undying belief in his game.
This is the rare kind of storyline that transcends basketball. It’s about perseverance, about rewriting the script, about lifting an entire franchise, fanbase, and country onto your back and carrying them to the mountaintop. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one win away from making history, and the basketball world is watching.
Should he do it, the ripple effects will be felt for years. Kentucky’s long wait for a Finals MVP would finally be over. Canada would have its biggest basketball icon since Steve Nash. And the NBA would have yet another global superstar forged not in the glitz and glamor of major markets, but through sheer grit and dazzling skill in the heart of Oklahoma.
For now, the countdown begins. One more game. One more win. One more masterpiece from the quiet assassin who has turned the basketball world upside down. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just playing for a title—he’s playing for legacy.
