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OKLAHOMA CITY — After completing the longest season of his basketball career, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander concluded on a high note Sunday night. The Oklahoma City star, who earned both the MVP and scoring champion titles, guided his team to its inaugural NBA championship and received the Bill Russell Finals MVP award.
While his Game 7 performance was not the most efficient—shooting 8-for-27 overall, with a 2-for-12 mark from beyond the arc—it proved effective in clinching a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 29 points, along with five rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks, and one steal in 40 minutes, frequently creating opportunities for his teammates and ensuring that the Thunder maintained the lead after the initial minutes of the second half.
“There were so many hours, countless moments, a whirlwind of emotions, and nights of both skepticism and belief,” Gilgeous-Alexander shared at court-side immediately postgame, surrounded by teammates as they prepared for the trophy presentation.
The trajectory of Gilgeous-Alexander’s season mirrored that of the Thunder, which finished with the best record in the league at 68-14, going wire-to-wire before securing another 16 wins to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Thunder became one of only three teams in NBA history, alongside the 1995-96 and 1996-97 Chicago Bulls, to achieve 84 or more total victories in a season.
At just 26 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander exemplified this success, leading the league in scoring with an average of 32.7 points per game. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the second time and was voted the 2024-25 Kia Most Valuable Player, significantly outpacing Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić in the votes.
During the playoffs, the 6-foot-6 dynamic scorer played a crucial role in leading the top-seeded Thunder through the first three rounds of the Western Conference and was recognized as the Western Conference Finals MVP. In the championship series, he averaged an impressive 30.3 points over seven games.
SGA = NBA FINALS MVP
⛈️ 30.3 PPG⛈️ 4.6 RPG⛈️ 5.6 APG⛈️ 1.9 SPG⛈️ 1.6 BPG @shaiglalex’s remarkable 7-game series propels the Thunder to their first title in the OKC era!
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
As if earning such prestigious awards—named after legends like Michael Jordan (MVP), Magic Johnson (West Finals MVP), and Russell (Finals MVP)—wasn’t enough, Gilgeous-Alexander also joined an elite club on Sunday night. He became one of only four players in NBA history to win the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season, a feat previously achieved only by Jordan (four times), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.
“It’s hard to believe I’m part of that group,” Gilgeous-Alexander remarked. “Sometimes it’s difficult to comprehend that I’m that caliber of player.
“Every child dreams, but you never really know if those dreams will materialize. I’m just grateful that my aspirations have come true, and I owe a thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way.”
Beyond his remarkable abilities on the court, Coach Mark Daigneault emphasized that Gilgeous-Alexander’s calm demeanor is just as significant for the Thunder.
“He remains composed regardless of the situation,” Daigneault stated over the weekend. “In any circumstance, he’s consistently present and poised, exhibiting remarkable confidence.
“His confidence is certainly infectious. … He has always possessed an impressive talent for staying confident through challenges, remaining grounded and consistent even during favorable times.”
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Steve Aschburner has been covering the NBA since 1980. You can reach him via email here, check out his archive here, and follow him on X.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
