Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Oklahoma City Thunder Toward NBA Championship

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder into the NBA Finals, marking a significant milestone for both the player and the franchise. On Wednesday night, Gilgeous-Alexander secured his second Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the season, adding the Western Conference Finals MVP accolade to his growing list of achievements.

While the Thunder have established themselves as a formidable team, boasting an impressive 68-14 record during the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent stellar performances have been pivotal throughout the playoffs. His ability to deliver high-impact games has kept the team afloat and propelled them toward their first Finals appearance in over a decade.

Outstanding Playoff Performance

In the decisive game, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in just 34 minutes, complemented by eight assists and seven rebounds, leading Oklahoma City to a commanding 124-94 victory that clinched the series in five games. Throughout the Western Conference Finals, he averaged an impressive 31.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game, surpassing the 30-point mark in four of the five contests.

Across 16 playoff games so far, Gilgeous-Alexander’s averages stand at 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. His exceptional contributions have been instrumental in the Thunder’s journey, underscoring his status as a franchise cornerstone and a rising star in the league.

Chasing Historic Achievements

With the Thunder just four wins away from capturing their first NBA championship since 2012, Gilgeous-Alexander has an opportunity to etch his name into history. Securing the NBA Finals MVP would not only crown his playoff run but also place him among an elite group of players who have achieved both the league’s regular-season and Finals MVP honors in the same year.

If Gilgeous-Alexander claims the Finals MVP trophy, he would become the first player since LeBron James in the 2012-13 season to win both awards in a single campaign. This feat has remained elusive for over a decade, with only a select few legends managing to accomplish it.

Historical Context and Notable Examples

Historically, players like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James have come close, but few have achieved the double in the same season. For instance, Curry earned his first MVP in 2015 and led the Warriors to their first of four titles, but the Finals MVP was awarded to teammate Andre Iguodala. Curry later secured the Finals MVP in 2022, a season dominated by Nikola Jokic, who was named MVP but fell short of the Finals MVP.

Durant, during his time with Golden State, claimed Finals MVP honors in both 2017 and 2018, helping the Warriors secure back-to-back championships. Meanwhile, Jokic, a three-time MVP, was the runner-up to Joel Embiid in the year he led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance and was named Finals MVP.

Since the NBA’s merger, only ten players have achieved the rare feat of winning both the MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. This exclusive list includes legends such as Michael Jordan (who did it four times), LeBron James, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Willis Reed, who was the first to accomplish this in the 1969-70 season.

Looking Ahead: A Historic Season in the Making

Given the Thunder’s dominance and Gilgeous-Alexander’s rising star power, this season could be one for the history books. His exceptional performance throughout the playoffs has not only elevated his status but also increased the likelihood of him joining the ranks of the NBA’s most legendary dual award winners. As the team stands on the cusp of a potential championship, all eyes are on Gilgeous-Alexander to see if he can complete this historic double and cement his legacy in league history.