OKLAHOMA CITY –Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the finishing touches on one of the most impressive individual seasons in NBA history by hoisting the Bill Russell trophy, awarded to the Finals MVP, almost six years after arriving in Oklahoma City as part of the return in a blockbuster trade that signaled the Thunder’s shift toward a rebuild.
His name is now included among some of the game’s all-time greats.
After his team’s 103-91 win in Game 7 over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Gilgeous-Alexander joined an exclusive list of players to win the MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. The only others to accomplish that feat are Michael Jordan (four times), LeBron James (twice), Larry Bird (twice), Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Willis Reed.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 32.7 points during the regular season and 30.3 in the Finals, also became the first player to win a scoring title and NBA championship in the same season since O’Neal in 2000. The only others to have done that are Jordan (six times), Abdul-Jabbar, George Mikan (twice) and Joe Fulks.
The only players other than Gilgeous-Alexander to accomplish the triple crown of scoring champion, MVP and NBA champion in the same season are Jordan (four times), O’Neal and Abdul-Jabbar.
“It’s hard to believe that I’m part of that group,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after he finished with 29 points and a career-playoff-high 12 assists in Game 7. “It’s hard to even fathom that I’m that type of basketball player sometimes.
“As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams. But you don’t ever really know if it’s going to come true. I’m just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s regular-season scoring average is the highest ever by a player who won the title that campaign, topping Jordan in 1992-93 by one-tenth of a point, according to ESPN Research.
“This isn’t just a win for me,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after accepting the award. “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.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 212 points in this series were the most in the Finals since James had 215 in 2015. Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 30-point performances in the playoffs, ranking behind only Jordan and Olajuwon for the most in a single postseason.
“That’s going to go down in history as one of the greatest seasons that’s ever been had by a player,” said Thunder power forward/center Chet Holmgren, who had 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in Game 7. “It’s amazing to be a part of that, to witness somebody going through it, succeeding in so many different ways.
“He really makes it a joy to be around. It’s never about him. It’s always about us. It’s always about winning. His talent shines through all of that. We saw that all year. He’s a hell of a basketball player, but he’s an even better person.”
The most memorable Finals performance by Gilgeous-Alexander occurred during the Thunder’s series-tying road comeback win in Game 4. He scored 15 of his 35 points in the final five minutes, the most by any player in the five minutes of a Finals game in at least 50 years.
“Those are the minutes, those are the moments when the best players, the biggest stars, the superstars, Hall of Fame players, make their name,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I want to have that name. I want to have those titles attached to my name.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was acquired after his rookie season as the centerpiece in the package the Thunder received in the Paul George trade with the LA Clippers in the summer of 2019, along with a historic haul of first-round picks, one of which became Oklahoma City co-star Jalen Williams.
Gilgeous-Alexander served as the steady face of Oklahoma City’s franchise as the Thunder stripped down the roster around him and went through a rapid rebuild. His commitment and faith in the franchise never wavered as the Thunder endured 22- and 24-win seasons before making double-digit win leaps in each of the past three years, culminating with this 68-win campaign.
“The thing about Shai is he’s a secure player, and he’s a secure person,” Thunder GM Sam Presti told ESPN. “Because of that, I think it allows him to see things for what they can be and not just what they are. I’m really grateful to him — not just for what he’s done for the team, but also just for the guy that he is and the person that I get to come to the building with every day.”
