February 16, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Shaq’s OGs guard Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors controls the ball against Chuck’s Global Stars guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Steph Curry, Lakers Legend On Historic NBA List

Originally posted on Golden State Warriors on SI
By Liam Willerup | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 9:24 PM ET

If he's able to cap the season off with an NBA title, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have capped off one of the most successful guard seasons in NBA history. After already winning the 2024-25 NBA MVP award, he now will matchup against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals with a chance to give Oklahoma City their first title since their arrival.

The Thunder set the record for the youngest number one seed last year, with just an average age of 23.9. After getting bounced in the second round last year, they've looked more locked in than ever, and Gilgeous-Alexander deserves a lot of that credit. A season that's been filled with history-making, Gilgeous-Alexander's latest accomplishment has put his name among select NBA legends.

Win first #KiaMVP ✅
Make first NBA Finals ✅

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 8th player in NBA history to achieve both for the first time in the same season!

The #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV between the Thunder and Pacers begin Thursday, June 5 with Game 1 at 8:30pm/et on… pic.twitter.com/N7KLIhg7KP
— NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025

After winning his first NBA MVP award and making the NBA Finals for the first time in the same season, Gilgeous-Alexander became just the eighth player in NBA history to do so. That list includes the likes of Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the rest consisting of all Hall of Famers.

While there were flashes of potential, nobody could've expected Gilgeous-Alexander to become the MVP-level guard he is today after his first season with the Los Angeles Clippers. If they had, the Clippers would've found a way to hold on to him, as their trade for Paul George still haunts the franchise today, given the key players the Thunder walked away with.

This is officially the greatest season by a Canadian basketball player...ever.

I'm a Steve Nash guy...but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the verge of something magical!

*1st in NBA in PPG
*2nd in steals
*1st in plus/minus
*1st in 30-point games
*1st in 40-point games
*1st in… pic.twitter.com/lE4UKjb34z
— Tim Micallef (@tim_micallef) May 29, 2025

If Gilgeous-Alexander can capture the NBA title, he'll join even more elite company, and the Thunder looked like their reign over the NBA is just getting started.

This article first appeared on Golden State Warriors on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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