Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receives key to hometown in Ontario - ESPN

HAMILTON, Ontario — 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 that the Oklahoma City Thunder star will have a street named after him after capping an epic season by leading the team 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 Thursday night. He was honored to start the second quarter of the CFL game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the B.C. Lions.