Following a remarkable season, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been honored as the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player, surpassing formidable competitors Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. The announcement, reported by Shams Charania of Moneyline, marks a significant milestone for Gilgeous-Alexander after he finished as the runner-up for the MVP award the previous year.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a first-place finish in the Western Conference for the second consecutive year, achieving a league-best record of 68-14. Throughout the season, he showcased his scoring ability by averaging 32.7 points per game, along with 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks. With a shooting percentage of 51.9 from the field and 37.5 from beyond the arc, he achieved over 50 percent shooting for the fourth time in his burgeoning career. The 2024-25 season was filled with remarkable displays, including four games where he scored over 50 points, highlighted by a career-high 54 points in a victory against the Utah Jazz in January.

Despite his impressive performance, Gilgeous-Alexander faced considerable competition from Jokić, who claimed in March that he was, 'playing the best basketball of my life.' Jokić averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, positioning himself among the top three players in the league for each statistical category. Notably, he became just the third player in NBA history to record a triple-double for an entire season. Jokić made history by posting the first 30-20-20 game in NBA history with 31 points, 21 rebounds, and a career-best 22 assists during an overtime victory against the Phoenix Suns. He also scored a remarkable 61 points in a double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 1, becoming the first player to achieve a 60-point triple-double.

Antetokounmpo also had a standout season, ranking second in the NBA with an average of 30.4 points and sixth with 11.9 rebounds, complemented by 6.5 assists and 1.2 blocks, while shooting 60.1 percent from the field—marking his second consecutive year above the 60 percent threshold. As the leader of the Bucks, he guided the team to the In-Season Tournament championship in December and had a standout performance with 59 points and 14 rebounds during an overtime win against the Detroit Pistons in November. Gilgeous-Alexander's achievement of earning his first MVP award places him in elite company, and he will undoubtedly be driven to pursue an NBA championship to further enhance his legacy.