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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Compared to Kobe Bryant After Winning MVP

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gautam Varier | Last updated May 22, 2025 1:41 PM ET

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished runner-up in voting for MVP to Nikola Jokic in 2024, but he wouldn't be denied in 2025. Gilgeous-Alexander took home the award this time around after earning 71 first-place votes compared to 29 for Jokic.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a league-best 68-14 record in 2024-25 and averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game along the way. The 26-year-old won the scoring title as well, and it was just a phenomenal regular season.

Gilgeous-Alexander has impressed in the postseason as well, as he has the Thunder up 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Canadian's exploits on the court and demeanor have now led to him being compared to Kobe Bryant.

Lou Williams had the fortune of playing alongside both Bryant and Gilgeous-Alexander, and he sees similarities between them. On Thursday's episode of "Run It Back," Williams stated that the Thunder guard carries himself the way the Los Angeles Lakers icon did.

"I see a lot of Kobe influence on him," Williams said on Run It Back. "The way that he speaks, the way that he articulates."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reminds Lou Williams of Kobe Bryant:

"I see a lot of Kobe influence on him. The way that he speaks...you can see his personality all over the way this team carries themselves."@GeorgesNiang20 | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/UkD3CcPXgR
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 22, 2025

Williams was Bryant's teammate on the Lakers in 2015-16, his final season in the NBA. He would then be Gilgeous-Alexander's teammate on the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018-19, when he was a rookie. There aren't too many people more qualified than Williams to speak about these two.

Gilgeous-Alexander has now matched Bryant when it comes to MVPs, and he'll be hoping to win a few more before he walks away from the game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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