Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named the 2025 NBA MVP

For months, the league has buzzed with debates, prolonged by a 7-game playoff matchup with the top two contenders for MVP. Well, the wait is over. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the smooth, relentless force behind the Oklahoma City Thunder's resurgence, has been named the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player.

In a league filled with elite talent, Gilgeous-Alexander stood above the rest this season, leading OKC to the best record in the Western Conference while averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. But stats alone don't tell the story. His poise, leadership, and two-way excellence made him the heartbeat of a Thunder team that has grown from a rebuilding curiosity into a legitimate title contender.

At just 26, SGA has already established himself as one of the league’s most dynamic guards. But this season, he elevated in every way, from late-game dominance to defensive impact, cementing his place as the league’s most complete perimeter player. Whether it was slicing through defenses with his trademark pace, burying midrange daggers, or taking on top-scoring threats night after night, Gilgeous-Alexander was consistently the best player on the floor.

The Genesis of a Star in OKC

To understand this moment, one had to rewind to the summer of 2019. The Oklahoma City Thunder, fresh off a disappointing playoff exit, faced a seismic shift. Their superstar, Paul George, requested a trade to join Kawhi Leonard on the Los Angeles Clippers. What followed was a trade that, at the time, was seen by many as a concession, a full-scale rebuild. In return for George, the Thunder received a massive haul of draft picks, along with a promising but unproven second-year guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

SGA had been drafted 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA Draft, only to be immediately traded to the Clippers. In his rookie year, he showed flashes of brilliance, making the All-Rookie Second Team. But in Oklahoma City, he was handed the keys to a franchise in transition. It was a blank canvas, and SGA, with his deliberate pace and deceptive athleticism, began to paint his masterpiece.

The early years in OKC were about growth, for both SGA and the nascent Thunder core. He steadily improved, refining his mid-range game, enhancing his playmaking, and becoming a disruptive force on defense. Each season saw his scoring average climb, his efficiency soar, and his leadership grow. He became an All-Star, then an All-NBA First Team selection, consistently defying expectations.

The MVP is also a validation of the Thunder’s long-term vision. From acquiring Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2019 trade that sent Paul George to the Clippers, to building a versatile, tough-minded roster around him, OKC’s front office saw SGA not just as a future star, but the star.

And now, he’s proven them right. The MVP trophy adds a new chapter to Gilgeous-Alexander’s growing legacy. But for a player wired the way he is, the focus is already shifting. With the playoffs heating up, and the Thunder chasing their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, SGA knows his story is still being written.

MVP today. Champion tomorrow?

In Oklahoma City, they believe. And thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they have every reason to.

By The Numbers

1. 32.7 points per game: Leading the entire NBA in scoring, a testament to his unparalleled ability to get to his spots and finish in traffic or with his silky smooth pull-up jumper.
2. 6.4 assists per game: Demonstrating his improved court vision and trust in his developing teammates like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
3. 5.0 rebounds per game: A solid contribution from the guard position.
4. 1.7 steals per game: Underscoring his active hands and defensive instincts, often turning opponent mistakes into easy transition buckets.
5. 1.0 blocks per game: An elite number for a guard, showcasing his length and timing.
6. 51.9% field goal percentage, 37.5% three-point percentage, 89.8% free throw percentage: Elite efficiency across the board, especially for a high-usage scorer.

MVP Winners for Thunder

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Kevin Durant – 2014 MVP

1. Season Averages: 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.5 APG
2. Notable: Led the league in scoring; carried OKC during Russell Westbrook’s injury absence. Famously said, “You the real MVP” during his heartfelt speech thanking his mother.

Russell Westbrook – 2017 MVP

1. Season Averages: 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG
2. Notable: First player since Oscar Robertson (1962) to average a triple-double for a season. Achieved this after Kevin Durant's departure, leading an underdog Thunder team to 47 wins.

Top MVP Candidates / Finalists

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2024 MVP Voting: 2nd Place

1. Season Averages: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG
2. Notable: Breakout year that confirmed his superstardom; narrowly behind Nikola Jokić in voting.

Kevin Durant – MVP Voting: Multiple Top-5 Finishes (OKC)

1. 2nd Place: 2010, 2012, 2013
2. 3rd Place: 2011
3. Notable: Consistently one of the league's best players during the Thunder's rise to contention.

Russell Westbrook – MVP Voting:

1. 2nd Place: 2015
2. 4th Place: 2016, 2018
3. Notable: Continued dominance and statistical excellence during OKC's post-Durant era.

James Harden – MVP Voting (as a Thunder player):

1. 2012: No MVP votes while playing a 6th man role, but finished 6th Man of the Year
2. Note: Went on to win MVP in 2018 with the Houston Rockets.