NBA MVP, Finals MVP and Scoring Champ: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Elite Club

He is the most valuable player. The champion for scoring. And now, an NBA Champion along with the NBA final MVP.

All in one season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has entered one of the most common clubs of matches.

The 26-year-old Canadian is in almost every importance in almost every way in which they are in the basketball world. Gilgeous-Alexander and The Oklahoma City Thunder captured the NBA title on Sunday night, beating Indiana Pacers 103-91 To win the finale in the three games thriller.

It becomes the fourth player in the NBA history for winning the MVP, the MVP final, the name of the scoring and playing for the champion in the same season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it once, Michael Jordan then did it four times, and Shakuille O’Neal was the last participant in that fraternity – so far.

“Lots of hard work, a lot of hours at the gym,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “This isn’t just a victory for me. This is victory for my friends. This is victory for all in my angular ones. This is a victory for fans. This is a victory for fans.” This is a victory for fans. “

The title covers of the season in which Thunder won 84 games, related to the third majority of any team in any season in the history of the NBA. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the season with 64 matches at least 30 points. The only other players achieve 30 points that many times in the season: Vilt Chamberlain, Rick Barri, Elgin Bailor, Bob Mcadoo, James HardenJordan and Abdul-Jabbar.

It’s an amazing company. With the obligatory respect for these legends, Gilgeous-Alexander does not care. Thunder are the NBA Champions. It’s more than enough for him.

“Focusing on just that the best version of me for this basketball team, because what it takes, as much games, as much as many owners need, no matter how many moments, said” Gilgeous-Alexander. “Finally, I’m just trying to stay at the moment. I think it helped me with the MVP award, I achieve all the things I’ve achieved. It helped to win this team.”

This was not the sneaking attack on SuperStardome. Gilgeous-Alexander climbed those tapes for years.

He is one of only two players – Giannis Antetokounpo is left – to average at least 30 points per game in each of the last three seasons. Led Canada on a bronze medal (over the United States, not less) on World Cup 2023. year was the all-star and the first team of all-NBA, three years running, played in the first Olympics Last year and he just finished the season he published his career the best in points and helps at the game.

This season has scored 3,172 points, including playoffs, ninth most players in the history of NBA.

Oh, and now the champion is.

“Every year, it gets better in everything about everything,” Thunder Coach Mark Daigneault said. “I think he really improved as a playmaker. … and then it’s an incredible stretcher. He leaned in the way they are reflected in the way the team is reflected in the way they are reflected early to reject the way they are rejected in the way This reflects this is reflected in the way that is reflected in the way that is reflected in the way that is reflected in the way it is reflected in the way it is reflected in the way that is implemented in the way it is reflected in the team to be implemented early.

Opponents have no other choice than wondering about how Gilgeus-Alexander does what he does. He is not a highly flying artist like Jordan, not an unstoppable force of power Lebron JamesNot for Dazzler with 3 points like Stephen Curri. It seems to play on our own pace, greatly, because the defense has several ways to slow or accelerate it.

“Shai, so good,” Pacers keeps Tires Haliburton – Who suffered serious injury to the lower leg that kicked him out of the game 7 in the first quarter – he said during the series. “He’s so slippery between those gaps. Creates screens, as, I don’t know how it works. … he’s really firm cover.”

Gilgeous-Alexander is the face of basketball in Oklahoma City, quickly becomes one of the NBA’s faces – his jersey is now one of the best-selling – and it is not a secret that he is an icon for fans in Canada. It used to be Steve Nash, the first Canadian to win NBA MVP.

Now, Nash has help.

“You can only imagine yourself about all children around the world, but especially Canadians who will affect or not, according to the way she is carried, it is committed to their profession,” Nash said. “It’s extraordinary and he’s an amazing example for all there, not just children.”

There is no question that Nash had no influence on the Gilgeus-Alexander’s climb in the game. Another great Who did the radio: Kobe Briant.

There are parallels: similar types of bodies, even similar ways in which the questions answer. Bryant know was said that “the job was not completed” on the question of his Lakers Getting within two subtitles of one year; Gilgeous-Alexander had a similar moment after the Three Wins in this series, saying “we did nothing.”

They now have.

“He’s probably my favorite player of all time,” said Gilgeous-Alexander about Briant. “I’ve never got a chance to meet him. With me, his influence went through the roof. He will remember forever because of the competitors and basketball players. Yes as a basketball player one day.”

It’s not there yet.

But Gilgeous-Aleksandar is a week closer to the week, when he first reached basketball.

“That means everything,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We managed to the moment. And here we are.”

Reporting associated press.

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