Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins first career NBA MVP Award

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win the NBA title, and their superstar player is a reason why.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first NBA MVP Award Wednesday.

The Canadian star and league's leading scorer posted career highs with 32.7 points and 6.4 assists per game, carrying the Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the West with an NBA-best 68-14 record.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander watches a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) in the fourth quarter during Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference finals at Paycom Center.  (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)

Gilgeous-Alexander finished in second place last year to Nikola Jokić. The Thunder defeated Jokić's Denver Nuggets in seven games in the second round.

Gilgeous-Alexander was the 11th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018 but was quickly traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He only spent one year there, though, and was part of a package that sent Paul George to Los Angeles.

Since the trade, Gilgeous-Alexander has been a diamond in the rough, and he will soon be named first-team All-NBA a third straight year. He's also led the NBA in free throws made per game the last two seasons.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against the Denver Nuggets in the second half during Game 7 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City May 18, 2025. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)

Oklahoma City kicked off the Western Conference finals with a 114-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who fell in the same round to the Dallas Mavericks last