Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named NBA’s Most Valuable Player
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024-2025 season, according to a report from The Athletic. The 26-year-old guard received 71 out of 100 first-place votes from media members, surpassing Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić, who garnered 29 first-place votes.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a phenomenal season, averaging a league-best 32.7 points per game for the Thunder, who claimed the league’s No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs with 68 wins. As The Athletic notes, Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance earned him the top spot on the MVP ballot, beating out Jokić, who was seeking to become a four-time MVP winner.
The Thunder star, who was runner-up to Jokić for MVP last season, expressed his gratitude and humility in receiving the award. “You try so hard throughout the season to like, not think about it and just worry about playing basketball and getting better and trying to win games,” Gilgeous-Alexander said on TNT from the Thunder’s team facility in Oklahoma City. “I’m very thankful to be on this side of the ballot, but none of this is possible without the guys behind me.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, a former University of Kentucky standout, is the seventh consecutive NBA MVP from outside the United States and the first Canadian winner of the award since Steve Nash won consecutive MVPs in 2005 and 2006. As The Athletic reports, Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive stats this season included a career-high in points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per game.
The 6-foot-6 Gilgeous-Alexander shot 50.1 percent from the field, joining Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to average more than 30 points while making half of their shots. He also scored 50 or more points on four occasions this season, setting his personal best with 54 points on January 22 against the Utah Jazz.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s role as the top player on the best regular-season team in the league was a significant factor in his MVP win. The Thunder, who lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 in the Western Conference finals, became the youngest team in NBA history to finish atop their conference and repeated that feat in a landslide this year.
Jokić, despite having a remarkable season with career highs in points (29.6), rebounds (12.7), and assists (10.2) per game, finished as runner-up. The Athletic suggests that voter fatigue and the Nuggets’ coaching changes may have impacted Jokić’s candidacy.
The NBA awards season is now complete, with the All-NBA teams still to be announced. Other individual award winners this season include:
* Rookie: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
* Sixth Man: Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
* Defensive Player: Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
* Clutch Player: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
* Most Improved: Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
* Coach: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
As reported by The Athletic, Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP win marks a significant milestone in his career, solidifying his position as one of the top players in the league.
Source link
