He had been the rumored frontrunner for months, but it was made official on Wednesday: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is the NBA’s MVP.
News of Gilgeous-Alexander’s victory in the MVP race wasn’t that surprising, but it was still a huge moment for the young star.
Speaking with ESPN, he talked about what it meant to be the Most Valuable Player and how this was a moment he had imagined for years.
“I dreamt about it as a kid, but as a kid, it’s a fake dream. But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it’s hard to not freak out. It’s hard to not be a 6-year-old kid again. And I think that’s what’s allowed me to achieve it. I tried to just not focus on it and just worry about what’s gotten to this place,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
Just days ago, Gilgeous-Alexander was battling against his biggest competitor for MVP, Nikola Jokic, but now he has been declared the league’s most important star.
This was a season to remember for Gilgeous-Alexander, who earned his first scoring title and led his Thunder to 68 regular-season wins.
This has been a long time coming for the 26-year-old guard, who averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists.
Last year, he was runner-up for the award, but he was the odds-on favorite to win it all season in 2024-25.
Although Gilgeous-Alexander should take time to soak this in and celebrate his success, he isn’t done fighting hard in the playoffs.
His team is currently battling against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they hope to reach the Finals in a few weeks.
Gilgeous-Alexander has made good on a dream he’s had since he was a child, but there is another dream he wishes to achieve: becoming a champion.
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