THE ROAD TO MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn't named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for nothing. With their backs against the wall and facing a 3-1 deficit in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to rely on their MVP to pull one out of the fire and change the dynamic of this series.
With the Indiana Pacers in control for most of the game and a 87-80 lead going into the fourth quarter, Shai scored nine straight points to secure the first Thunder lead (104-103) in the second half with over two minutes remaining. The Thunder never trailed after that.
A true MVP, Shai put his team on his back as he single-handedly led the furious comeback scoring 15 of his game-high 35 points in the last canto. He also contributed three rebounds and three steals, shooting 50% from the field while hitting all 10 free throws in a close game.
The Game 4-win puts Oklahoma back in the driver's seat as they regain an advantage with two of the last three game to be played in their homecourt.
Shai is now poised to lead the Thunder to their first ever franchise title since they moved to Oklahoma in the 2007-08 season. Previously, the franchise was named the Seattle Supersonics that last won a title in 1979.
While already established as the best player in the best basketball league in the world, it hasn't been an easy road for the Canadian-born superstar.
Gilgeous-Alexander was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in nearby Hamilton. Considered a "tough", industrial neighborhood, Shai was not allowed to play video game or watch TV from school. Instead, it was practice, homework, and basketball games on satellite TV.
Born of athlete players, Shai was taught that he could achieve anything. In Grade 9 at St. Thomas More High School, he was cut from the junior team and had to play for the school's midget squad. He channeled his frustrations to become the team MVP and delivered his midget squad the city championship. As a senior in Hamilton heights Christian Academy, he averaged 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4 assists but was only considered a 4-star recruit.
Committing to the University of Kentucky under the great John Calipari, Shai was told that he wouldn't be starting for the team but he replied, "Do what you need to do coach." "That's when I knew that kid was going to be ridiculously good," Calipari said. Before long, Shai became a starter in a team that included NBA players P.J. Washington, Kevin Knox II, and Hamidou Diallo.
In the 2018 draft, he was drafted only 11th by the Charlotte Hornets who immediately traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers the same day. After a year with the Clippers, he was part of the package traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Paul George. With the Thunder, he played through two frustrating years that saw him end hthose seasons early due to foot injuries.
But all these challenges only fueled Shai. He said that growing up in Hamilton, he was overlooked since players from other bigger cities in Canada got all the hype. "We were overlooked. So that gave me that underdog mentality. It put a chip on my shoulder. It carried over to my work ethic and the way I play," said Gilgeous-Alexander in an interview with Toronto Star.
Underdogs no more, the Thunder and Shai have a chance at glory, a chance at history with their first ever title. Not bad for a kid that always had to play catch-up to prove himself worthy.
2025-06-14T18:04:51Z