Credit to wife, son, Rolex watches for entire team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates NBA’s MVP award in style

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season on May 21, 2025. The 26-year-old Canadian's emotional acceptance speech and his heartfelt tribute to his wife, Hailey Summers, underscored the personal journey behind his professional achievements.

He's also the first Kentucky Wildcat to be named league MVP, and is now the seventh consecutive international player to win the award.

"Thank you," Gilgeous-Alexander began, his voice breaking as he addressed Summers. "Sorry I'm so dramatic ... Thank you for everything you are for me, for our son Ares. You were the first person to show me what love really meant. What love really meant, what sacrifice really meant. And I can't wait to spend the rest of this journey called life with you. So thank you for everything."


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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance in NBA

Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP season was marked by exceptional performance. He led the NBA with an average of 32.7 points per game, shooting 51 per cent from the field, and contributed over six assists and five rebounds per game. His efforts propelled the Thunder to a league-best 68-14 record, securing the top seed in the Western Conference.

This achievement places him alongside Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points on 50 per cent shooting, along with five rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals, and one block per game in a season.

Gilgeous-Alexander received 71 first-place votes and 913 total points from a global media panel, edging out Denver's Nikola Jokic, who garnered 787 points. This marks the first MVP win for a Thunder player since Russell Westbrook in 2017.

Beyond the statistics, Gilgeous-Alexander's leadership and confidence have been pivotal to the Thunder's success. Teammate Kenrich Williams highlighted his influence, stating, "The confidence he has in himself and the confidence he instills in every one of his teammates, including the coaches."

Gilgeous-Alexander showed his appreciation for his teammates by gifting each player a Rolex watch, a gesture that NBA Central shared on social media.



Gilgeous-Alexander's journey to MVP is also a testament to his development since being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Thunder in 2019, which sent Paul George to the Clippers and is now often cited as one of the most lopsided in NBA history.

As the Thunder continue their playoff run, currently leading the Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 in the Western Conference finals, Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP recognition serves as both a personal milestone and a symbol of the team's resurgence.