Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award
According to a report from the NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the recipient of the Michael Jordan Trophy as the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player. This is the first time Gilgeous-Alexander has received the honour, having finished second in the voting last season and fifth in 2022-23.
The NBA reports that Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the second player from Canada to earn the honour, along with two-time winner Steve Nash (2004-05 and 2005-06). He is also the third player to win the award with the Thunder, joining Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17). The 2024-25 regular season saw Gilgeous-Alexander average 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.72 steals, and 1.01 blocks in 34.2 minutes in 76 games, setting career highs in points, assists, and blocks per game.
In an analysis of his performance, the NBA notes that Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive statistics make him a standout player. He won the NBA scoring title for the first time and became the first player to lead the league in games with at least 20 points (75), 30 points (49), 40 points (13), and 50 points (four) in a season since James Harden in 2018-19. The NBA reports that Gilgeous-Alexander’s only regular-season game with fewer than 20 points was an 18-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on October 30, 2024.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting percentages were also impressive, with the NBA reporting that he shot 51.9% from the field, a career-high 37.5% from three-point range, and 89.8% from the free throw line (sixth in the NBA). He made an NBA-leading 601 free throws and a personal-best 163 three-pointers, 68 more threes than his previous career high of 95, set last season. As noted by the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 32.0 points and 6.0 assists per game and shoot 50.0% or better from the field in a season.
On defense, the NBA reports that Gilgeous-Alexander was the only qualifying NBA player to average at least 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He ranked fifth in the NBA in steals per game for a Thunder team that led the league in defensive rating (106.6). The NBA also notes that Gilgeous-Alexander was selected as an NBA All-Star for the third consecutive season and was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Player of the Month three times (October/November, December, and March) and the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week twice (Weeks 10 and 20).
The Thunder, led by Gilgeous-Alexander, finished atop the NBA and tied for the sixth-best single-season record in league history, with a record of 68-14. The NBA reports that Oklahoma City outscored opponents by an NBA-record 12.9 points per game. A global media panel of 100 voters selected the winner of the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, with the balloting tabulated by the independent accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP.
As reported by the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander’s award is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. The Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the NBA, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s win is a significant achievement for him and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA’s official announcement of Gilgeous-Alexander’s award can be found on their website, along with the complete voting results. The NBA provides comprehensive coverage of the 2024-25 NBA Awards, including the Kia Most Valuable Player Award, on their website.
The information provided in this article is sourced from the NBA’s official website, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information.
