On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
After a dominant Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves that sent the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA Finals since 2012, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP trophy, but it was his dad, Vaughn Alexander, who nearly stole the show.
As the postgame celebrations unfolded, Shai gathered with family to soak in the moment. But as he posed with the hard-earned MVP trophy, he couldn’t help but notice something funny: his dad refused to let go of the award. With a sly grin, Shai turned to Vaughn and said, “You actin’ like it’s yours.”
“You acting like it’s yours.”
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 29, 2025
— Shai to his dad.
(via @SportsCenter)
pic.twitter.com/0EDU5MmxP5
The moment instantly went viral. Vaughn, fully embracing the playful jab, pretended to stuff the trophy under his sweatshirt and sneak away with it. Shai burst out laughing, capturing a heartwarming exchange between father and son that reminded everyone watching of the importance of family behind basketball’s biggest moments.
Vaughn’s pride was undeniable. After all, his son had just averaged 31.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game in the series, leading the Thunder to a 4–1 win over Minnesota. In the clinching Game 5, SGA posted 34 points on 56 percent shooting along with eight assists and seven rebounds.
He became the third player in NBA history to record ten 30+ point, 5+ assist games in a single postseason, joining only Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Beyond his Western Conference Finals MVP, Shai is also the 2025 regular-season MVP, an honor earned with averages of 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and five rebounds per game for the 68-win Thunder.
He’s been the engine behind OKC’s remarkable transformation from a 24-win team just three seasons ago to a juggernaut with homecourt advantage in the Finals.
The WCF MVP trophy moment was also a full-circle one for the Alexander family. Shai’s father played basketball in his youth, and his mother Charmaine, competed in track at the 1992 Olympics.
The athletic lineage is undeniable and even extended to the opposing team, as SGA’s cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker plays for the Timberwolves.
While Vaughn may not have actually won the trophy himself, his support and presence throughout Shai’s rise to superstardom is symbolic. In that one playful moment, we saw the years of investment, sacrifice, and belief that fueled one of the NBA’s best players.
With the Finals looming on June 5 against either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are locked in.
If OKC goes on to win the championship, Vaughn may once again have trouble keeping his hands off the next piece of hardware, and this time, maybe he’ll have earned a tiny piece of it himself.
More must-reads:
- Former NBA champion shares shocking opinion on Luka Doncic
- Bulls sign HC Billy Donovan to multiyear extension
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
Toronto Raptors Release Ex-Lakers, Grizzlies Center
For any NBA team looking for a young center to add some frontcourt help, one just hit the open market. After signing a two-year contract at the end of the 2024-25 season, the Toronto Raptors have waived Colin Castleton, a 25-year-old center. "The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have waived centre Colin Castleton," the team announced. "In 26 games (four starts) with Memphis, Philadelphia and Toronto last season, Castleton averaged 4.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 16.6 minutes. He signed consecutive 10-day contracts with the Raptors in March before signing a standard NBA contract Apr. 13, the final day of the regular season." Castleton went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, but was picked up by the Los Angeles Lakers. Through 16 appearances with the Lakers in his rookie year, Castleton averaged 1.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in just 3.7 minutes per game, but had a more productive sophomore campaign. To start the 2024-25 season, the Memphis Grizzlies signed Castleton to a two-way contract before waiving him, and he went on to earn a handful of ten-day deals with the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers. Castleton shined in just an 11-game stint with the Raptors last season, averaging 7.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in two ten-day contract opportunities. Now, the 6-foot-11 big man hits the open market and could certainly earn a two-way spot elsewhere, or revert to the G League, where he stood out last season. However, an underwhelming 2025 Summer League with Toronto may turn some teams away.
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
Titans waive former first-round pick after latest injury
Treylon Burks‘ tenure in Tennessee is on track to come to an end. In the wake of his latest injury, the former first-rounder has been waived. This move has come with an injury designation, which comes as no surprise given the broken collarbone Burks recently suffered in training camp. Injuries have plagued the 25-year-old throughout his brief NFL tenure, which began when Tennessee selected him with the No. 18 pick in the 2022 draft. That selection was acquired by dealing A.J. Brown to the Eagles. Given the link between the two wideouts created by the trade, Burks’ evaluations have always been measured against Brown’s Philadelphia success. During each of his three seasons with the Eagles so far, Brown has earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro acclaim; the 28-year-old was also a key figure in the team’s Super Bowl success in 2025. Burks, by contrast, entered this summer on Tennessee’s roster bubble. The Arkansas product managed a career-best 444 yards as a rookie while being limited to 11 games. Optimism was high that, with better luck on the health front, he could round out his game and develop into a regular on offense with the Titans. Staying on the field has proven to be an issue, however — Burks missed six games again in 2023 and an ACL tear limited him to five contests last season — and when available he has not managed to meet expectations. The collarbone injury accelerated the timing for what could have been a decision to move on from the Titans closer to the start of the regular season. Tennessee’s receiver depth chart will once again be headlined by Calvin Ridley this season. Veteran Tyler Lockett was added in free agency, as was Van Jefferson. The Titans used the draft to add a pair of Day 3 prospects at the position (Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor), and they will look to handle backup roles during their rookie seasons. Tennessee entered Monday with nearly $30M in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if one of the veterans still on the market is targeted in the wake of this move. Burks is now headed to waivers, with all teams free to claim him. Provided he goes unclaimed, he will revert to injured reserve. Situations such as these often result in a release being worked out along with an injury settlement. If that proves to be the case for Burks, his Titans stint will end on an unwanted but unsurprising note.
Red Sox Aren't Getting Standout Back Anytime Soon
The Boston Red Sox got some bad news in the infield. Rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer has gotten a lot of time at second base and third base. Since Alex Bregman returned, Mayer has gotten most of his action at second base while also filling in as the Red Sox worked Bregman back slowly. Unfortunately, he's on the Injured List, though, due to a wrist sprain. MassLive.com's Christopher Smith shared the lastest update on Mayer from Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Saturday noted that he's "not gonna play soon." "No new updates on Marcelo Mayer's wrist sprain, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said," Smith shared. "'Just waiting for results and see specialists and all that stuff,' Cora added. 'He's not gonna play soon. So have to make sure where we're at and what the course of action is going to be.'" Losing Mayer is tough. Defense has been a question mark for Boston once again this season but Mayer has helped in that area. With Mayer out, Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to get a lot of action at second base. That helps to alleviate the logjam in the outfield, but also removes arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game. Boston isn't at full strength and Cora noting he's "not gonna play soon" certainly doesn't sound positive. Before going down, Mayer was slashing .228/.272/.402 with four homers, 10 RBIs, and eight doubles. Will the Red Sox add another piece ahead of the trade deadline? It absolutely makes sense at this point.
Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander Held Out of Baltimore Ravens Practice for Predictable Reason
One of the biggest storylines in the NFL this offseason was the decision the Green Bay Packers made to release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. Last year, the former first-round pick played in just seven games due to various injuries, including a torn PCL that cost him all but 10 snaps of the second half of the season. The year prior, he played just seven games as well due to other injuries. In other words, out of the past 34 possible regular season games, Alexander played in just 14 of them. Dating back to 2021, he played in just 34 out of a possible 68 regular season games, with 2022 being the only season in which he played more than seven contests. According to prior reports, Green Bay and Alexander disagreed on how his knee injury last season should be treated. This led to a fracture in their relationship and, eventually, the cornerback’s release. Former Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander Signed with the Baltimore Ravens Prior to his release, Alexander and the Packers had engaged in talks over a revised contract that would lower his salary cap hit and allow him to become a free agent following this upcoming season. However, he did not agree to Green Bay’s terms, and since no NFL team wanted to offer up draft capital in a trade for him, the Packers were forced to release him. Not only was this development a disappointment to fans, among whom Alexander was a favorite player, but it sparked concern that would join one of Green Bay’s NFC North division rivals. Instead, though, Alexander signed a one-year $6 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He had previously been linked to them due to the fact that he and two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson were teammates in college. Former Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander Missed Baltimore Ravens Practice with a Knee Injury Unfortunately for Alexander and the Ravens, the injury concerns that the Packers had regarding the star cornerback seem to have reappeared in Baltimore. According to multiple reporters, the two-time Pro Bowler did not practice on Monday due to swelling in his knee: Alexander is getting his knee drained and is expected to practice on Tuesday. But even though it is just one practice and he is just supposed to miss one day, the fact of the matter is that his knee will never be the same. This will be an injury that will affect him for the rest of his career, and could cause him to miss time during the season. While an unpopular decision among many, perhaps releasing Alexander was the right move for the Packers after all.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
