Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 20-year-old point guard from Canada, quickly secured a starting position in the NBA, taking just 10 games after being drafted 11th overall by the Clippers. His rookie season saw him relying on rides from teammates or Uber while practicing with a learner’s permit. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder post-rookie season, facing a challenging environment as the franchise struggled with a combined 46 wins from 2020 to 2022. This season, however, he has made a remarkable transformation into one of the NBA’s elite players, recently being named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Gilgeous-Alexander achieved impressive league-leading averages: 32.7 points, 7.9 free-throw attempts, and 21.8 shot attempts per game, contributing to Oklahoma City’s franchise-record 68 wins and securing the top seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive year. He garnered 71 first-place votes and 913 total points, far surpassing second-place Nikola Jokic, who had 787 points. Other top contenders included Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell.
As the Thunder progresses to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2016, they have a chance for their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. Gilgeous-Alexander’s prestigious MVP win makes him the second Canadian to achieve this, joining Steve Nash. The last seven MVPs have been international players, highlighting a global shift in talent within the league. Notably, Jokic praised Gilgeous-Alexander for his exceptional skills and defensive capabilities, marking his emergence as a truly special player.
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