Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes history with MVP win
There was a time when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t expected to be a one-and-done at Kentucky. Some insiders even believed he’d be in Lexington for three, maybe four years.
Now? He’s the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
On the heels of a sensational 2024-25 campaign, Gilgeous-Alexander was officially named the league MVP per ESPN—becoming the first former Wildcat to ever win the award. Shai averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting a scorching 52% from the field and nearly 38% from three.
Just a year after finishing runner-up to Nikola Jokić in MVP voting, Gilgeous-Alexander leapfrogged the Serbian star this time—ironically, right as the Thunder eliminated Jokić and the Nuggets from the Western Conference Playoffs.
And it comes with perfect timing: Oklahoma City just took Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves. The NBA Finals are within reach for the talented Canadian.
From steady to star
Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise wasn’t scripted. At Kentucky, he didn’t even start the first month of his freshman season starting in just 2 of 15 games. But once inserted into the lineup, he never looked back—leading the 2017-18 Wildcats in assists and serving as the heart and soul of a team that made the Sweet 16.
His calm demeanor, elite feel for the game, and uncanny ability to finish in traffic drew praise, but it still wasn’t enough to vault him into top-10 draft status. He went 11th overall in 2018, selected by the Clippers and then traded to the Thunder in the blockbuster deal that sent Paul George to L.A.
In hindsight, the Clippers may want that one back.
Year-by-year evolution
Since arriving in Oklahoma City, Shai has steadily built his game. He averaged just 10.8 points per game as a rookie. That climbed to 19.0, then 23.7, then 24.5, and then 31.4 by 2022-23. Last season, he was second in MVP voting, making All-NBA First Team.
This year? He left no doubt.
- Games: 76
- Points per game: 32.7
- Assists: 6.4
- Rebounds: 5.0
- Steals: 1.7
Shooting splits: 52/38/90
Win shares are through the roof
And it’s not just stats—Shai’s poise, leadership, and two-way impact have guided a young Thunder roster to the brink of something special. He’s doing it as a primary ball-handler, a scorer, a defender, and the locker room anchor.
Kentucky roots, global impact
For Big Blue Nation, Shai’s MVP win is more than a personal accolade—it’s a feather in the program’s ever-growing NBA résumé. He’s now part of an exclusive club of Kentucky guards who have taken the league by storm, from John Wall to Devin Booker to De’Aaron Fox.
But even among that elite company, Gilgeous-Alexander’s path has been uniquely inspiring. He didn’t have the flashy mixtapes. He wasn’t a top-10 recruit. He didn’t arrive on campus with NBA-ready hype. He just worked—quietly, relentlessly, confidently.
Now, he’s at the top of the basketball world.
And the story’s far from over. With the Thunder just three wins from the Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might not be done making history this season.