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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reportedly named NBA MVP after standout season
By Andrew Olson
Published:
For the first time in NBA history, a former Kentucky Wildcat is set to be named MVP. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will reportedly be officially honored.
ESPN insider Shams Charania broke the news on Wednesday afternoon.
Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the NBA MVP award, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 21, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA scoring title, averaging 32.7 points per contest in 2024-25, along with 6.4 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1 block per game while shooting 51.9%. As Charania noted in a follow-up post, that puts Gilgeous-Alexander in the company of Michael Jordan as the only other player in NBA history to average at least 30 points on 50% shooting, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block per game in a season.
A Wildcat in 2017-18, Gilgeous-Alexander was selected No. 11 overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on draft night, where he played his rookie season in 2018-19. In July 2019, the Thunder acquired Gilgeous-Alexander in a trade.
With the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander is a 3-time NBA All-Star and was named All-NBA First Team the previous 2 seasons as well. Oklahoma City is currently in the Western Conference Finals with a 1-0 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
