Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder to First NBA Title, Captures Finals MVP in Historic Season

Oklahoma City, OK – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a performance for the ages, guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA championship with a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Sunday night. The 26-year-old Canadian guard was named Finals MVP, capping a season in which he also earned the league’s regular season MVP and scoring title, joining an elite group of players to achieve all three honors in a single year.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points, dished out 12 assists, and collected five rebounds in the decisive game, ensuring the Thunder never trailed after halftime. His Finals averages—30.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game on 44.3% shooting—underscored his dominance throughout the series. He topped 30 points in five of the seven games, including a 38-point effort in Game 1.

The Thunder’s championship marks their first since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008 and represents the culmination of a rapid rebuild. Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership was pivotal, both on the court and off, where he was celebrated for his engagement with fans and teammates. His emotional postgame remarks reflected the significance of the moment: “This isn't just a win for me. This is a win for my family. This is a win for my friends. This is a win for everyone who was in my corner growing up. This is a win for the fans”.

With this victory, Gilgeous-Alexander became the first Canadian to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award and only the fourth player in league history to win MVP, Finals MVP, and a scoring title in the same season—joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal. He also became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both regular season and Finals MVP in the same year.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic season and the Thunder’s title run have cemented his place among basketball’s greats and signaled the arrival of a new powerhouse in the NBA.