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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Clear Statement on NBA Legend After Timberwolves-Thunder

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 23, 2025 2:28 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was officially named the NBA's regular-season MVP on Wednesday, as most have expected him to be over the last few months.

He earned that honor by leading the league with an average of 32.7 points a game on 51.9% shooting from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range. His excellent play was the biggest reason why the Thunder put together a 68-14 record during the regular season and are now two wins away from the NBA Finals.

He received the Michael Jordan trophy on Thursday before Game 2 of the Western Conference finals versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. He talked about how much former teammate Chris Paul, who was in attendance to watch him receive the trophy, has meant to him.

"He's been great," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Not only like a big brother, a mentor, but just like a friend. He was always there to lean on. He was the first guy in my life that I was close with that achieved the things that I want to achieve, and I really leaned on him for advice."

"Not only like a big brother, a mentor, but just like a friend."

SGA discusses his relationship with CP3, who was in attendance to watch him receive the Michael Jordan trophy

Brotherhood. https://t.co/bf3KtvZhSo pic.twitter.com/HahXu4qEJh
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2025

Paul is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and he has been praised by many for his leadership skills. Even at age 40, he continues to be a serviceable player for the San Antonio Spurs.

He played for the Thunder during the 2019-20 season, which was Gilgeous-Alexander's first campaign with the team. The Thunder weren't expected to do much that year, but they went 44-28 and were a whisker away from knocking off the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs.

Gilgeous-Alexander had just been traded to Oklahoma City by the Los Angeles Clippers along with several draft picks for Paul George. While that deal has turned into a disaster for the Clippers, it has propelled Oklahoma City into the NBA's elite class.

On Thursday, the newly minted MVP scored 38 points and eight assists as his team pulled away from Minnesota in the third quarter to notch a 118-103 victory. He has come a long way from the young player who looked up to Paul just five years ago.

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

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