Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s epic season adds another trophy: Finals MVP
Oklahoma City – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander understood the assignment of game 7.
“Those are the minutes, those are the moments when the best players, the greatest stars, the superstars, the players of the Hall of Fame, make their name. I want to have that name, I want to have those titles attached to my name,” he said.
Gilgeous-Alexander excelled under the brightest lights: 29 points and a career-Playoff-High-High-High in Game 7, guiding the Thunder at a 103-91 victory and the first championship of the team in the city. He checked and orchestrated the game in a masterclass performance, and with this it was the unanimous MVP NBA Finals.
The list of Gilgeous-Alexander results in these finals and throughout this season is historical:
• It is only the fifth player with over 25 points, 5+ rebounds and 10+ assists in game 7 of the NBA finals (Jerry West, Walt Frazier, James World and Lebron James).
• First player to be appointed MVP of the regular season and MVP of the finals in the same season by Lebron James in 2012-13.
• First player to earn MVP of the regular season and win the NBA championship in the same season as Stephen Curry in 2014-15.
• First player to win the NBA score title and the NBA championship in the same season as Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-00.
• Fourth player to win the title of score NBA and be appointed MVP of the regular season and the MVP of the finals in the same season (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan-Quottro Times-and Shaquille O’Neal).
“Yes, it is difficult to believe that I am part of that group. It is difficult to even understand that sometimes they are that type of basketball player,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “As a child, dreams. Each child dreams of. But you never know if you become reality. I am only happy and happy that my dreams have been able to come true. It is a” thanks “to all those who have been in my corner who helped me get there.”
His teammates were amazed.
“At the end of the day that will go down in history as one of the biggest seasons that has ever been made by a player,” said Chet Holmgren. “It is incredible to be part of it, assisting someone who crosses him, succeeding in so many different ways that really makes a joy around. It is never about him. It is always about us. It is always about winning. His talent shines through all this. We have seen him all year round. He is a hell of basketball player, but he is an even better person.”
“I think he has a unique mentality. I think he gives us a lot of confidence,” added Isaiah Hartentein. “As we say throughout the season, it is always zero and zero. I don’t think it was ever too high, too low. A great leader inside and off the pitch. He also does the job. If you see him daily, the work he puts inside and off the pitch, the way he leads. I have been with many players, many superstars, but how much Ego is really in a special way”.
That mentality 0-0-which sometimes his teammates make fun of him led him to one of the big individual seasons in the history of the NBA. And the MVP of the NBA finals and a ring was worth it.