By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 01:47 BST, 8 August 2025 | Updated: 01:47 BST, 8 August 2025
HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) - NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the key to the city of Hamilton from Mayor Andrea Horwath at a public rally Thursday at Hamilton Stadium.
Horwath also announced the Oklahoma City star will have a street named after him after capping an epic season by leading Thunder to the NBA title.
"Growing up as I traveled across the world, to countless states, cities and countries people always asked where I was from," Gilgeous-Alexander told a raucous gathering in the north end zone after hoisting the NBA championship trophy over his head. "I took pride in letting everyone know I was from Hamilton.
"Hamilton is different from every other city in Ontario, Hamiltonians carry a different sense of grit, determination, pride and energy than the rest of the province and honestly, I couldn´t shy away from that. I carry that with me every day and everywhere I go so you guys can only imagine how (much) overwhelming joy there was when I found out I was getting a key to the city I love and a street named after me."
Gilgeous-Alexander returned to the Stadium on Thursday night. He was honored to start the second quarter of the CFL game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the B.C. Lions.
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Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander holds up the Larry O'Brien Trophy during a ceremony honoring the NBA basketball champion, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander greets fans during a ceremony honoring the NBA basketball champion, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, presented with the key to the city from Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, during a ceremony honoring the NBA basketball champion, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans wait for Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during a ceremony honoring the NBA basketball champion, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Cadets from the Blackdown Cadet Training Centre in Borden, Ontario, pose for a photo with Oklahoma City Thunder NBA basketball player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rally towels ahead of Canadian Football League play between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the B.C. Lions in Hamilton, Ontario, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press via AP)