Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became only the second player originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets to win the NBA MVP award, joining Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named this season’s NBA MVP, putting the cherry on top of an incredible year. With jaw-dropping numbers and leading his team all the way to the Western Conference Finals, SGA has solidified himself as one of the faces of the league.
Free throws this season
Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA
This milestone also sparks an intriguing "what if" story for one of the NBA’s least successful franchises, the Charlotte Hornets.
By winning the MVP, SGA became only the second player originally drafted by the Hornets to earn this honor, joining the legendary Kobe Bryant, who later became a Lakers icon.
Credit AP - Scanpix
Both players were drafted by Charlotte but traded early in their careers. Shai was sent to the Clippers in 2018, while Kobe was traded to the Lakers in 1996.
Now, the Hornets are left to wonder how different their franchise’s history might have been if they had held onto these two superstars—an alternate reality where Charlotte could have been a true contender.
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