There’s no doubt: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had one of the best years an athlete can have.
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Gilgeous-Alexander was officially named male athlete of the year by The Canadian Press on Saturday, easily winning the title for the second time in his career.
The Hamilton native earned the honor after earning his team’s Most Valuable Player honors during the NBA season and Grand Finals Most Valuable Player honors. He also won the league scoring championship and led his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to their first ever championship.
“There’s no point in even debating whether he’s one of the best players in the world. There is no longer any debate possible,” said Rowan Barrett, general manager of Canada’s men’s national basketball team.
“We may not like his game. We may not like his team. We can not like everything we want, but objectively, how can we say that he is not one of the best players in the world? »
“He won everything this year. It’s hard not to choose it,” summarized, for her part, Manon Gilbert, sports journalist from Radio-Canada.
PHOTO NATE BILLINGS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, holds up the MVP trophy as he celebrates with his team after they won the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
“He achieved what Steve Nash never managed to do: crown a season as Most Valuable Player with the title… all this in a league that has more talent than ever,” added his colleague at Radio-Canada, Olivier Paradis-Lemieux.
Gilgeous-Alexander received 89.3% of the votes. Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was born in Montreal but represents the Dominican Republic internationally, finished second. Quebec tennis player Félix Auger-Aliassime and walker Evan Dunfee also received votes.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a 1.98m guard, averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1 block per game last season.
The Thunder had the best regular season record in the NBA Western Conference and eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves before reaching the NBA Finals.
“He puts pressure on the defense every time he moves towards the opposing zone. He has a great power of attraction (when he is not in possession of the ball). His usage rate is very, very high,” according to Raptors forward Brandon Ingram.
“He can access the intermediate zone. He gets to the basket and shoots more efficiently from the three-point zone. So he can do a lot of things on the field. He’s a leader. He’s the leader of this team. »
PHOTO NATE BILLINGS, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander had a double-double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, scoring 29 points and adding 12 assists, as the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to win their first title.
He and Steve Nash (2005, 2006) are the only Canadians to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Gilgeous-Alexander is also one of four NBA players to be named Season Most Valuable Player and Finals Most Valuable Player in the same year. Others to have accomplished this feat are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, three Hall of Famers.
“Being the second Canadian to win season MVP is one thing, but winning the NBA and Finals MVP (not to mention scoring!) puts him in the pantheon of legends,” noted Signa Butler of CBC Sports in his ballot.
“His journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the best players in the world shows the power of hard work and belief. »
Voters were also impressed by Gilgeous-Alexander’s continued success. Not only did he lead the Thunder to the title in June, but the team continued that momentum this season with a 26-5 record, the best in the NBA Western Conference.
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said Gilgeous-Alexander’s contribution goes far beyond just statistics or on-court performance.
PHOTO NATE BILLINGS, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander et Chet Holmgren
“He’s an extraordinary human being,” Rajakovic said.
“We played a game in Oklahoma City (last year), and I was impressed to see him after his warmup on the field, with probably 2,000 people waiting for him, and he spent between 30 and 45 minutes signing all the autographs that were asked of him.
“You don’t see that every day, and not just what he does on the field, but what he does off the field, the kind of person he is. »
Gilgeous-Alexander’s outstanding season, worthy of a team MVP, and his off-court behavior have also earned him the respect of his NBA colleagues.
“He’s getting better every year,” Boston Celtics guard Derrick White said. “It’s a testament to his character and the work he does.” »
