CNN
–
Oklahoma City Thunderstar guard Shy Gilgus Alexander was named NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 regular season for the first time in Wednesday’s career.
Gilgeous-Alexander said he tried to “hardly think” and “not think” MVP awards throughout the season, but gave his teammates credit for his achievements in honor.
“I’m just worried about playing basketball and trying to get better and win the game,” he told the NBA on the TNT crew that a lightning teammate sat around him.
“But as a competitor and as a kid who dreams of games, it’s always deep inside you. I’m very grateful to be on this side of the vote. But the amount of games we’ve won, the fashion we’ve won is very impressive.
The University of Kentucky’s seven-year pro averaged 32.7 points, leading the league every game, as the Thunder finished the season. The Canadian also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steel and 1.0 blocks per game during the campaign.
Alongside the playoffs where OKC knocked off the Denver Nuggets in seven games and moved to the Western Conference Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander fought three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic.
Thunderstar finished fifth in the poll last year with Jokic and placed fifth in the 2022-23 season.
Jokic placed second in the MVP voting this year, with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Anteto Compo in third place.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the third Thunder player to win an award after Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
This is the seventh consecutive year that an international player has received an award. The last American to win the honor was James Harden in the 2017-18 season.
