Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander (SGA) capped off a transcendent 2024–25 season by guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA championship since relocating in 2008, delivering on every preseason expectation and then some.

The 24-year-old averaged an astounding 32.7 points per game—the league’s top scorer—while also contributing 6.4 assists (14th in the NBA), 5.0 rebounds, and shooting 51.9% from the field.

These numbers powered the Thunder to a franchise-best 68–14 record, solidifying their position atop the Western Conference.

In recognition of his dominance, Gilgeous‑Alexander secured the 2025 NBA MVP award, becoming only the fourth player since 1980 to claim both the scoring title and the MVP in the same season.

Entering the playoffs, Thunder pressure remained intense. SGA answered decisively, delivering 29.9 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 5.3 RPG over 23 postseason games. His consistency held firm even as James Harden-calibre teams fell like dominoes.

The peak moment came in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 22, when OKC edged out Indiana 103–91. SGA led the charge with 29 points and 12 assists, capturing Finals MVP honours to become the first player since LeBron James (2013) to win both MVPs in the same season.

That performance was punctuated by a game-turning third quarter, where the Thunder outscored Indiana by 34–20, asserting control after halftime. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by an Achilles injury, SGA assumed command and never looked back.

Gilgeous‑Alexander’s playoff excellence also extended beyond the Finals. In Game 5, he dropped 31 points, and in the Western Conference Finals, he averaged over 30 PPG for a second straight series, reinforcing his status as the league’s most clutch performer.

That four‑trophy haul—Regular-Season MVP, Scoring Title, Finals MVP, and NBA Championship—places SGA in rarefied company. Only Michael Jordan (1991–93) and Shaquille O’Neal (2000) previously completed that sweep.

What sets SGA apart is how he leads. Quiet, methodical, and fiercely competitive, he blends elite skill on both ends with an unshakeable demeanour. Coach Mark Daigneault called him the “most prepared superstar” he’s ever seen, capable of neutralising double teams while finishing tough mid-range and paint buckets.

SGA’s emergence also elevates OKC’s supporting cast. Teen phenom Chet Holmgren (18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks in Game 7) and Jalen Williams (20 PTS) joined the highlight reel, but it was Shai’s seal of approval—the four-trophy season—that set the tone.

As confetti rained in the Paycom Centre, fans realised they’d witnessed something special: the ascension of a potential generational talent. Gilgeous‑Alexander didn’t just elevate his team—he redefined leadership in today’s NBA.