Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the cusp of NBA immortality. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard, fresh off winning the 2024-25 NBA MVP award, has led his team to the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, with a chance to secure the franchise’s first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City. A title victory would cap one of the most remarkable seasons by a guard in NBA history, placing Gilgeous-Alexander among the game’s all-time greats.
Win first #KiaMVP ✅
Make first NBA Finals ✅Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 8th player in NBA history to achieve both for the first time in the same season!
The #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV between the Thunder and Pacers begin Thursday, June 5 with Game 1 at 8:30pm/et on… pic.twitter.com/N7KLIhg7KP
— NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025
Last season, the Thunder made history as the youngest number one seed in the NBA, with an average team age of just 23.9. Despite falling in the second round of the playoffs, their potential was undeniable. This year, they’ve returned with unmatched focus, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership has been the driving force. His historic season has already etched his name alongside NBA legends.
By winning the MVP award and reaching the NBA Finals in the same season, Gilgeous-Alexander joins an exclusive group of just eight players in NBA history to achieve this feat. This elite club includes Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and a collection of Hall of Famers. It’s a testament to the Thunder guard’s meteoric rise.
This is officially the greatest season by a Canadian basketball player…ever.
I’m a Steve Nash guy…but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the verge of something magical!
*1st in NBA in PPG
*2nd in steals
*1st in plus/minus
*1st in 30-point games
*1st in 40-point games
*1st in… pic.twitter.com/lE4UKjb34z— Tim Micallef (@tim_micallef) May 29, 2025
Few could have predicted this level of dominance when Gilgeous-Alexander entered the league with the Los Angeles Clippers. His potential was evident, but his transformation into an MVP-caliber guard has been extraordinary. The Clippers’ decision to trade him in the deal for Paul George now looms as a franchise-defining misstep, as Oklahoma City reaped the rewards with Gilgeous-Alexander and other key assets.
Should Gilgeous-Alexander lead the Thunder to an NBA title, he’ll ascend to even rarer company, cementing his legacy among the game’s greatest. With the Thunder’s young core and relentless drive, their reign over the NBA may only be beginning.