A Canadian has won NBA MVP for the third time in league history
Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in rarified NBA air.
The Toronto native (who mostly grew up in Hamilton) is set to be named the 2024-25 NBA MVP, as first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Gilgeous-Alexander edged out Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo as the other two top nominees.
He is the first Canadian player to win the award since Steve Nash won it in back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006 while with the Phoenix Suns.
The man often referred to simply as “SGA” led the league with 32.7 points per game, and also averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks.
The incoming award is a testament to one of the NBA’s rising stars, who has made himself a household name since being traded to the Thunder in a package centred around Paul George back in 2019.
Outside of his play in the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the driving forces behind the Canadian men’s national basketball team, helping to lead them to a bronze medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and their first Olympic experience since 2000 in France last year.
Gilgeous-Alexander had finished second in NBA MVP voting behind Jokic last season, while finishing fifth the year prior.
Jokic has won three of the last four MVPs, with Joel Embiid breaking up his streak in 2023. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo had won in back-to-back years in 2019 and 2020.
After a 68-win regular season, the Thunder are well on their way to make their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, as they currently lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 in the Western Conference Final.
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