Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP makes it seven straight for international players winning the award

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about Mark Daigneault and how he has helped make Shai a better player “[Mark Daigneault] is insane” he raved about the Thunder bench boss pic.x.com/tgxSh7XBYo – 8:26 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be presented with the trophy before Game 2 in OKC tomorrow.
The MVP trophy is in route to OKC as we speak. – 8:24 PM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
SGA will get his 2025 NBA MVP trophy before Game 2 tomorrow versus Timberwolves. pic.x.com/OOXDhIK4BN – 8:24 PM

Payal Doshi @PayalDoshiTV
“Success is never linear,” – Shai on describing his journey by referencing a quote from a karate book a friend gave him. – 8:23 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
SHAI GOT ROLEX WATCHES FOR ALL OF HIS TEAMMATES 🤩
(via @Jay_MWilliams_ ) pic.x.com/oLtHHe0oOE – 8:19 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA bought all his teammates watches.
Jaylin Williams (SGA says of course it was JWill) asked him last year:
“2, what are you gonna get us when you win MVP?”
SGA said he would get them watches.
“So I had to do what I said I was gonna do.
I wouldn’t have the MVP without – 8:18 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s opening statement after winning NBA MVP pic.x.com/SL0C1ypuHN – 8:11 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA thanks his mom: “I always thought she was insane until I had a child. Then I knew what she meant.” – 8:10 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA gets emotional while thanking his wife Hailey Summers.
“You were the first person to show me what love really meant.” pic.x.com/zfuEsNAcAd – 8:09 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA starts his MVP speech by thanking his Thunder teammates.
“I can’t help explain how much you guys mean to me, not just as a basketball player. But as a family.” pic.x.com/ee5GsNs73X – 8:07 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
It’s official, Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA MVP, his first win
Will he add Finals MVP to that in a few weeks?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/repor… – 8:01 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters his NBA MVP press conference pic.x.com/eBFeaKuNRa – 8:00 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates are wearing MVP shirts at his press conference pic.x.com/anV7kRisjL – 7:56 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins NBA MVP Award.
My top 5 votes:
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
2. Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
4. Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
5. Anthony Edwards (Minnesota pic.x.com/IzZrrIdVdU – 7:41 PM

Michael Grange @michaelgrange
Steve Nash on SGA as MVP: “I respect & admire Shai so much. Not only how he plays but how he carries himself & what he represents. It’s inspiring to watch someone’s unwavering desire to improve & perform. Shai is writing history & pushing boundaries. Proud is an understatement. – 6:58 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Fun Fact: 29 NBA MVPs attempted more free throws in their MVP seasons than SGA did this year. pic.x.com/ScP8CUHq50 – 4:28 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
We’re back…simulcasting the full show on the NBA App!
Tune in to NBA Today 🚨 4-7p ET w/ @TermineRadio & @JumpShot8
🏆 Thunder’s SGA wins MVP!
🏀 OKC defeats TWolves in game 1
🔥 IND/NYK preview
🎙️ @QuinnBuckner at 6:20p ET
📻 Listen Live: sxm.app.link/nbaradiolive pic.x.com/bd25KLQ5sA – 4:24 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Rank the last three MVP season:
Shai — 32.7 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 6.4 APG
Jokic — 26.4 PPG | 12.4 RPG | 9.0 APG
Embiid — 33.1 PPG | 10.2 RPG | 1.7 BPG pic.x.com/MZDD6xayiJ – 4:21 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to be named the 2024-25 NBA MVP, according to @ShamsCharania 👏 pic.x.com/UkqztNDtlv – 4:20 PM

Lev Akabas @LevAkabas
The OKC Thunder had a +8.4 net rating with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off the court this season
That’s the highest for any NBA MVP since 1994
They were an elite +16.0 with him on the court pic.x.com/lJd2byMFqz – 4:16 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
2025 award winners remaining in the playoffs:
— Jalen Brunson
— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
That’s it. pic.x.com/IEX4qjsg5p – 4:14 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“It’s almost a throwback vote for me”
🔊 Derek Fisher discusses why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved to win the 2024-25 MVP award
@derekfisher | @WorldWideWob | @adaniels33 pic.x.com/oxHj1QBVDf – 4:08 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Rank these Thunder MVP seasons.
KD:
— 32.0 PPG
— 7.4 RPG
— 5.5 APG
— 50/39/87%
Shai:
— 32.7 PPG
— 5.0 RPG
— 6.4 APG
— 52/38/90%
Russ:
— 31.6 PPG
— 10.7 RPG
— 10.4 APG
— 43/34/85% pic.x.com/f85CJkOuyq – 4:08 PM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander met the super max criteria (All-NBA in 2 out of 3 years) last offseason but was ineligible to sign because he was short of the years of service criteria.
He is eligible this offseason to sign a four-year $293M extension with OKC.
Because he won MVP (and – 4:06 PM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
MVP SGA and the Oklahoma City Thunder are not showing their youth and inexperience in #NBA playoff run. League’s youngest team points to character of players as reason for success. #NBAPlayoffs bit.ly/3YUwPmi – 4:05 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
🏆 NEW BIG NUMBER w/@YourManDevine
OKC’s statistically the best defense ever, SGA = MVP and the foul merchant myth.
APPLE: tinyurl.com/3mvkpc97
SPOTIFY: tinyurl.com/3th42xd4 pic.x.com/1dwJGe0ivu – 4:01 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season:
— 33/5/6/2
— Best player on best team
— 1st in points
— 2nd in steals
— 1st in plus/minus
— 1st in 30-point games
— 1st in 40-point games
— 1st in 50-point games
MVP. pic.x.com/cb6UrI033D – 3:58 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 2024-2025 NBA Most Valuable Player. pic.x.com/aCf8TxgJkp – 3:51 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the NBA MVP award, sources tell ESPN. – 3:50 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 110 free throws over a 12-game span ranks ____ all-time in playoff history 😳 pic.x.com/GeYL9lwITf – 3:43 PM

Adam Aaronson @SixersAdam
What gets lost in the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander foul-baiting discussion is the same thing that was lost in similar talks about James Harden + Joel Embiid: if you don’t foul him, he’s going to end up scoring. That is, above all else, the primary reason SGA shoots so many free throws – 2:03 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Column: Anthony Edwards tried to rattle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 1 of the West finals. It didn’t work. @washingtonpost @postsports
washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05… – 1:15 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“That’s when SGA is at his best”
Hear @Scalabrine react to the Thunder’s Game 1 comeback win against Minnesota
Watch The Starting Lineup with @TheFrankIsola and Scal weekdays 7-10aET on the @NBA App! pic.x.com/Up8cQsrjc6 – 1:07 PM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Live w/@adaniels33 on @SiriusXMNBA Channel 86 for the next 3 hours
📞 855-NBA-JUMP
📡 sxm.app.link/WorldWideWobNBA
– SGA
– Season-low in the paint
– 0 fast break points
– Quantity vs. Quality
– 3s vs. Thunder D
– Derek Fisher joins the show
– Tony Allen joins the show pic.x.com/g4wf1YEoMV – 12:59 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Thoughts from earlier this season on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP case, meaning just as much for him personally as the league at large. Award announced tonight:
si.com/nba/thunder/ne… – 12:38 PM

Sam Amick @sam_amick
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is quite the artist in his spare time, couldn’t have drawn it up much better than this…
On his MVP eve, he made his latest case – against Anthony Edwards no less – in this future-face-of-the-league debate, @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/63718… – 12:21 PM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
People who watch awesome basketball players like SGA and debate the legitimacy of the fouls that they draw are ironically the buzzkills that they claim these players to be. – 12:05 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Wolves led at halftime.
OKC outscored Minnesota by 30 in the 2nd half. 4 points were from SGA free throws.
SGA scored 20 points on 8-14 shooting with 5 assists in the 2nd half.
OKC won by 26.
Thunder win was not because of free throws. – 10:12 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most (field goals – free throws) this playoffs:
1. Mikal Bridges
2. Jamal Murray
3. Pascal Siakam
…
37. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.x.com/9N8CcEwJov – 10:11 AM

Michael Grange @michaelgrange
NBA’s MVP will be announced tonight on TNT at 7 pm… all signs point to it being SGA 🇨🇦🏀. – 9:22 AM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
New Locked on #Thunder Podcast:
🏀 Thunder Defense Continues Season-Long Trend
🏀 SGA Takes Over
🏀 Co-Stars stepping up
🏀 Kenrich Williams
#ThunderUp #FirstListen:
linktr.ee/LockedOnThunder pic.x.com/tGM5uio2a5 – 4:12 AM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Shai is now the MVP of the playoffs, per HoopsHype’s Global Rating. pic.x.com/avCRWO1XOa – 3:20 AM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew 12 fouls tonight. 7 shooting, 4 non-shooting, and 1 loose ball. – 3:17 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
If you all are gonna trip about the calls SGA gets in the MIN/OKC series
Watch the free throw differential for IND/NY series 😶‍🌫️
*I would suggest not tripping. The more aggressive team is going to get the benefit of the whistle. Been like that for every decade of NBA lol – 2:59 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Tonight was the first time that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 25+ field goals and 10+ free throws in the same playoff game
Michael Jordan did it 46x
LeBron James did it 27x
Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson did it 20x each
Donovan Mitchell has done it 9 times (3x vs IND) – 2:50 AM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The real problem with SGA’s foul-baiting is that it works.
cbssports.com/nba/news/the-r… – 1:56 AM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA and his son Ares hooping postgame on the OKC court.
Thunder gotta start collecting 2043 1sts. pic.x.com/svorwc1el7 – 1:08 AM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
SGA went 10-27 from the field and shot 14 free throws
It is extremely difficult to get 14 free throws in a game where you got up 27 shots – 11:50 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on Chet Holmgren: “From the moment he was on our basketball team, our win column went up..
He’s a special person and a special talent.” – 11:49 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on why OKC’s rim protection is so strong:
“Chet Holmgren. First and foremost.” – 11:47 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on Cason Wallace’s playmaking: “Caso played point guard in high school and college. People forget that.
We’re seeing him grow.. and that’ll continue throughout his career.
Sky‘s the limit for Caso. He’s a really good basketball player.”
Wallace had 7 assists tonight. – 11:46 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was quick to remind us that Cason Wallace played point guard in high school and college when asked about his facilitating – 11:46 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on going from Denver’s zone defense to Minnesota’s man to man:
“It ultimately made us better for sure. By the end of the series, we were attacking it. You could feel us getting better at it.” – 11:44 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Joe:
“They are always ready. We don’t win this game without those two guys.” – 11:43 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on OKC’s strong 2nd half after struggling the 1st half:
“We didn’t panic… We knew if we stuck with it they would eventually fall and they did.” pic.x.com/fDfWaa3Ziv – 11:41 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Michael Malone in March on Nikola Jokic, based on his stats this year: “He wins the MVP 10 times out of 10. And if you don’t think so, you guys are all full of (bleep).”
Michael Malone tonight on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “Showed why he’s the MVP.”
I wonder what changed. – 11:35 PM

Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Watching Michael Malone sit on my television and give OKC, their crowd and SGA compliment after compliment. pic.x.com/ps991BrS3C – 11:22 PM

Micah Adams @MAdamsStatGuy
SGA invoking 2006 D-Wade and an entire new younger generation suddenly understands what Mavs fans have complained about the last two decades. – 11:18 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I’m going live on Beyond the Arc shortly to talk Game 1 between OKC and Minnesota. SGA’s whistle, OKC’s defense and more with @JohnGonzalez coming up shortly.
youtube.com/live/Y297iszZn… – 11:15 PM

Andrew Sharp @andrewsharp
Hearing Doris Burke repeatedly praise SGA for drawing extremely borderline foul calls might kill me before this series is over – 10:57 PM

Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
I don’t care who wins this game. The touch foul calls SGA gets are really awful. They don’t resemble anything else that’s happening in the playoffs. – 10:33 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Isaiah Hartenstein picked up his 4th foul and had to check out.
OKC goes super small with SGA-Joe-Wallace-Kenrich-JDub. – 10:20 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
OKC 6-0 run to take the lead back.
JDub midrange jumper
JDub midrange floater
SGA midrange jumper
Thunder up 62-60. – 10:19 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a pull up middy sends Minensota into a timeout with a frustrated finch ready to call it before the ball ripped the cords. OKC by 2. – 10:18 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Ant helped SGA up after this foul 🙌 pic.x.com/bPep4c8V7v – 10:09 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Bad news: Julius Randle has out scored SGA, JDub and Chet combined.
Good news: Yet OKC is still only down 4 points. – 9:53 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Wolves take a 48-44 lead into halftime. MIN is shooting just 34.9%, but holding OKC to 37.5%. Randle 20p on 6-of-8 3r; Edwards 13p 5r. For the Thunder: SGA 11p on 2-for-13 4a; Hartenstein 10p on 5-of-6 4r. – 9:48 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Ant and SGA kinda glance in each other’s direction after the buzzer, like two fighters after the bell…
High level competition here, 48-44 Wolves lead – 9:47 PM

Zach Kram @zachkram
In the first half of Game 1:
Julius Randle: 20 points on 8 shots
SGA, Chet, and J-Dub combined: 19 points on 24 shots – 9:47 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, first halves vs Timberwolves
February 13 at Minnesota: 2/13 FGs
WCF Game 1 at Oklahoma City: 2/13 FGs pic.x.com/im3crg7UoE – 9:47 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
With that Jaden McDaniels blocked shot, SGA is now 2-for-13 to start Game 1. – 9:43 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Wolves triple-teamed SGA 😳 pic.x.com/9hdTxZXbo0 – 9:40 PM

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Inefficient 20-point first quarter from the Thunder. They went 6 of 17 shooting and only had one made 3, coming from Isaiah Joe, a bench piece that faded out of the rotation vs Denver. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored nine, but needed eight shots and seven free throws. – 9:17 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
I love the Jaylen Clark sub. He was highly impactful in February as a Shai defender
I’d watch for TJ Shannon in this series at some point too – 9:05 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Ant got a tech for tossing the ball at SGA. pic.x.com/TvpF0WvDWp – 8:58 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has missed two free throws already. Have to love the way he is attacking downhill rentlessly and putting the Timberwolves in bad spots but OKC has to convert better at the line. Best FT% in the reg. season not so much postseason. – 8:54 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Couple of bad trends for MIN early: SGA has seven free throw attempts in the first five minutes and Ant Edwards has two turnovers. – 8:53 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Anthony Edwards picks up an early technical foul.
Rudy Gobert an early 2 fouls.
OKC in the bonus with 7:38 to go in the 1st quarter.
SGA is attacking the basket nonstop. – 8:53 PM

Christopher Hine @ChristopherHine
Apologies, did not realize that techincal foul was on Ant. Shai is going to the line for his 6th and 7th free throws already. – 8:53 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Dort is guarding Ant, and McDaniels is on SGA.
All-NBA VS All-Defense guys – 8:45 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Can confirm SGA is wearing the butters tonight. – 8:42 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder starters vs Wolves
SGA
Dort
JDub
Chet
Hartenstein
Western Conference Finals
Game 1 – 8:02 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Thunder Starters:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Lu Dort
Jalen Williams
Chet Holmgren
Isaiah Hartenstein – 8:02 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA makes his Western Conference Finals Game 1 entrance. pic.x.com/JrGo77dQAA – 7:02 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
NBA MVP award winner: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Nikola Jokic (w/video) #ThunderUp #MileHighPlayoffs #NBAPlayoffs #NBAPlayoffs2025 azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 5:57 PM