The Oklahoma City Thunder captured their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle after defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Sunday, June 22. The decisive victory at Paycom Center was powered by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who capped off one of the most dominant individual seasons in NBA history.
The 26-year-old Canadian guard didn’t just lead his team to the championship. He also joined Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players to win the regular season MVP award, Finals MVP award, and scoring title in the same season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Elite Company
Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic season places him among basketball royalty. He became just the fourth player to capture the MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring title triple crown, joining Abdul-Jabbar (1971), Jordan (1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), and O’Neal (2000).
The Thunder guard led the NBA with 32.7 points per game during the regular season while shooting 51.9% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. He guided Oklahoma City to a franchise-best and league-best 68-14 record, with the Thunder outscoring opponents by an NBA-record 12.9 points per game.
Beyond the scoring title and MVP trifecta, SGA also became just the 11th player in NBA history to win both regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same campaign. The exclusive list includes Willis Reed, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan and LeBron James.
SGA IS AWARDED THE BILL RUSSELL TROPHY AS THE NBA FINALS MVP 🏆
4th player to win #KiaMVP, the scoring title and the Finals MVP in the same season! pic.twitter.com/JP93jzjipu
– NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
“It’s hard to believe that I’m part of that group,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after Sunday’s clinching victory. “It’s hard to even fathom that I’m that type of basketball player sometimes. As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams.
“But you don’t ever really know if it’s going to come true. I’m just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true. That’s a ‘thank you’ to everyone that’s been in my corner that helped me get there. Wouldn’t have been able to get here without them. They know who they are. It’s a win for the family.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Road to Stardom
The achievement represents a remarkable journey for Gilgeous-Alexander, who wasn’t always destined for stardom. As a high school prospect, he was considered a four-star recruit and the least heralded member of Kentucky’s 2017 recruiting class. At Kentucky, he wasn’t even the team’s highest-scoring freshman, averaging 14.4 points, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Selected 11th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Gilgeous-Alexander was traded twice before finding his home in Oklahoma City. Charlotte dealt him to the Los Angeles Clippers on draft night in exchange for the 12th pick (Miles Bridges) and two future second-round selections. After a promising rookie season with the Clippers, he was included in the blockbuster trade that sent Paul George to Los Angeles in July 2019.
The trade to Oklahoma City proved transformative for both player and franchise. Under the Thunder’s development system, Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed from a promising young guard into one of the NBA’s elite players. His scoring average jumped from 19.0 points as a sophomore to 23.7, then 24.5, 31.4, and finally 32.7 this season.
In the Finals, SGA averaged 30.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds while leading the Thunder past a resilient Pacers team. He scored at least 30 points in five of the seven games, including 38 in Game 1 and 29 points with 12 assists in the clincher. Though he shot just 8-for-27 from the field in Game 7, his playmaking and defense helped the Thunder maintain control after taking the lead early in the second half.
With an MVP trophy, a Finals MVP award, a scoring title and now a championship on his résumé at age 26, Gilgeous-Alexander has established himself among the game’s elite. While it’s premature to discuss his Hall of Fame credentials, he’s building a legacy that already ranks among the most impressive single-season achievements in NBA history. If he maintains this trajectory, his name will be mentioned alongside the all-time greats for generations to come.
The championship represents the Thunder’s first title since the franchise relocated from Seattle in 2008. The organization previously won the 1979 NBA championship as the Seattle SuperSonics, with Dennis Johnson earning Finals MVP honors.
After 16 years in Oklahoma City, including a Finals appearance in 2012, the Thunder have finally reached the mountaintop with their homegrown superstar leading the way.
