Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named NBA MVP
On Wednesday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the NBA MVP title, but not everyone in attendance may have been thrilled about it.
Shortly after his big win, AT&T shared a heartfelt video featuring a voicemail from his mother, Charmaine, expressing her joy. “Finally! You got it!” she exclaimed.
She continued, “You deserve it. Stay focused, and everything else will fall into place. I know you’ll be one of the greatest to play this game, and now that’s another accomplishment checked off your list. This is the result of your consistent effort.”
Her pride was evident as she added, “You know how much I love you, and I am so proud of you.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, a Canadian star, had a standout season, averaging 32.7 points and 6.4 assists per game. He helped the Oklahoma City Thunder secure the top seed in the Western Conference with an impressive 68-14 record.
Last year, he was the runner-up for MVP, losing out to Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Interestingly, the Thunder recently defeated Jokic’s Nuggets in a seven-game series during the playoffs.
Gilgeous-Alexander, initially drafted 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018, was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers shortly after. He only spent a year there before being part of the deal that sent Paul George to Los Angeles. Since then, he has shown considerable growth, earning All-NBA First Team honors for the third consecutive year and leading the league in free throws made over the past two seasons.
The Thunder kicked off the Western Conference Finals with a convincing 114-88 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite trailing at half-time, they dominated the second half, outscoring Minnesota 70-40.
This marks Oklahoma City’s deepest playoff run since 2016 when they held a 3-1 series lead against the Golden State Warriors in the Conference Finals.
Oklahoma City, previously the Seattle SuperSonics, is aiming for its first NBA title since 1979, when the franchise was based in Seattle. The last time the Thunder reached the NBA Finals was in 2012, where they were defeated by LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
