In the realm of professional basketball, where individual brilliance often intertwines with team success, there exists an exclusive pantheon of players who manage to transcend even the highest levels of achievement. To be crowned the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the regular season is an extraordinary feat, a testament to sustained excellence over an 82-game grind. To then lead your team through the grueling gauntlet of the playoffs and emerge as the NBA Finals MVP is the ultimate validation, signifying peak performance when the stakes are highest. Accomplishing both in the same season places a player in a truly rarefied air, a group historically populated by legends.
This season, a former Kentucky Wildcats star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has achieved this remarkable dual honor, becoming the first player to win both the NBA MVP and the NBA Finals MVP in the same year since LeBron James accomplished it in 2013 with the Miami Heat. This incredible feat not only solidifies Gilgeous-Alexander’s place among the league’s elite but also adds another luminous chapter to the storied legacy of the University of Kentucky’s basketball program.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s journey to this pinnacle has been a testament to relentless improvement, quiet determination, and an unwavering belief in his own transcendent talent. Drafted 11th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft after a standout freshman year at Kentucky, his professional career began with the Los Angeles Clippers before a pivotal trade sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was in Oklahoma City that SGA truly blossomed, evolving from a promising young guard into a certified superstar.
His 2024-2025 regular season was a masterpiece of efficiency, artistry, and consistent dominance. Leading a young and dynamic Oklahoma City Thunder squad, Gilgeous-Alexander showcased an unparalleled ability to score from all three levels, utilizing his mesmerizing footwork, deceptive change of pace, and uncanny ability to draw fouls. He consistently delivered clutch performances, elevating his team in critical moments and leading the Thunder to an improbable top seed in the Western Conference. His statistical output was eye-popping, but it was his calm demeanor under pressure and his undeniable leadership that truly separated him from his peers in the MVP race. He became the first Kentucky alum to ever win the NBA regular season MVP, a monumental achievement in itself.
The transition from regular season dominance to playoff supremacy is where many MVP candidates falter. The intensity ratchets up, defenses become more focused, and every possession carries immense weight. Yet, Gilgeous-Alexander thrived under this pressure. He guided the Thunder through a challenging Western Conference gauntlet, demonstrating his versatility as both a scorer and a playmaker. His ability to dissect defenses, create opportunities for his teammates, and still consistently get his own shot was on full display.
In the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a performance for the ages. The series was a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle that stretched to a decisive Game 7. Throughout the series, SGA was the Thunder’s undeniable engine, averaging over 30 points, coupled with crucial assists, rebounds, and defensive plays. His composure in the biggest moments, particularly in the pivotal Game 7 where he poured in 29 points and dished out 12 assists, sealed the championship for the Thunder and earned him the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy. His ability to close out games, to hit the big shots, and to simply be the best player on the court when it mattered most cemented his place in history.
By achieving both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins an incredibly exclusive list of NBA greats. Before him, the last player to accomplish this remarkable double was LeBron James, who did so in consecutive seasons in 2012 and 2013 during his tenure with the Miami Heat. Prior to James, other legendary names on this list include Michael Jordan (who did it four times!), Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Willis Reed. This places Gilgeous-Alexander in the company of arguably the greatest players to ever grace the hardwood.
For the University of Kentucky, this achievement is a source of immense pride. The Wildcats program, under Coach John Calipari and its rich history, has long been a factory for NBA talent. However, to produce a player who not only reaches NBA superstardom but also achieves the rare distinction of dual MVP honors in the same season is a profound validation of the program’s developmental prowess. Gilgeous-Alexander’s success will undoubtedly serve as a beacon for future recruits, showcasing the pathway from Lexington to the very pinnacle of professional basketball.
His journey also highlights a particular characteristic often associated with Kentucky players: a strong foundation of fundamental skills, high basketball IQ, and a relentless drive to improve. While some Wildcats are one-and-done phenoms who rely on raw athleticism, SGA’s ascent speaks to the long-term development that can occur post-Kentucky. He harnessed his immense potential, refined his game year after year, and meticulously honed the skills that now make him virtually unguardable.
This historic season for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not just a personal triumph; it’s a statement about patience, hard work, and the power of a team built on genuine chemistry and collective aspiration. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, it marks their first NBA championship, a culmination of years of meticulous drafting and development. And for Big Blue Nation, it’s another reason to proudly proclaim their program’s enduring impact on the highest level of basketball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2024-2025 season will forever be remembered as one of the most dominant individual campaigns in NBA history, marked by two very shiny, very well-deserved MVP trophies.
