Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder to First NBA Title, Shares MVP Praise with Jalen Williams

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a historic season by winning the NBA scoring title, regular-season MVP, conference finals MVP, and Finals MVP, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA championship since relocating in 2008. In the decisive Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points with 12 assists and 5 rebounds, showcasing resilience after a challenging Game 6. Despite his individual accolades, he credited his teammate Jalen Williams as essential to the team's success, calling him a 'once-in-a-lifetime player' and sharing the MVP honor with him. Williams, who had a career-high 40 points in Game 5, rebounded from a poor Game 6 to contribute 20 points and key plays in Game 7, helping ignite the Thunder's offense after Tyrese Haliburton's injury. Gilgeous-Alexander also expressed sympathy for Haliburton, who suffered a torn Achilles early in the Finals, earning praise for his sportsmanship. The Thunder's victory and Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance have been celebrated as a team effort, with the star emphasizing that the championship belongs to everyone involved.