Here’s a comprehensive deep dive into how Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, a former Kentucky Wildcat, achieved a rare and historic NBA double—becoming the first Kentucky alum to win both NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP since LeBron James in 2013. This narrative explores his journey, the broader significance, and how singular this achievement truly is.
- Regular‑Season MVP: Gilgeous‑Alexander claimed the 2024–25 NBA Most Valuable Player award, marking the first time in University of Kentucky history that a former Wildcat earned this honor (kykernel.com).
- Finals MVP: He then led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first-ever NBA Championship, earning Finals MVP honors—a title he secured after Game 7 with 29 points (despite an 8‑for‑27 shooting night) and 12 assists (aseaofblue.com).
This puts him in an elite group of players who have won both awards in the same season—just 11 in NBA history, including legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem, and LeBron James (reddit.com).
Kentucky has a storied basketball tradition and has produced 29 NBA players active in 2024 . Yet, none before Gilgeous‑Alexander had ever reached MVP status, let alone collected both MVP and Finals MVP in a single season (si.com).
Kentucky legend Anthony Davis captured an NBA title in 2020 with the Lakers, but was not Finals MVP, and has yet to earn a league MVP (on3.com). Gilgeous‑Alexander’s dual honors step well beyond Davis’s achievements in league rankings.
Regular Season Domination
- Points per game: 32.7 (NBA-leading), with shooting splits of 51.9% FG and 37.5% 3P (kykernel.com).
- All-around contributions: In addition to scoring, he averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 block per game (aseaofblue.com).
- Consistency: Achieved an extraordinary 72-game streak with 20+ points—the fourth-longest in NBA history (kykernel.com).
- Team success: Anchored the Thunder to a franchise-record 68–14 season and the Western Conference’s top seed
- Western Conference Finals: Dominated early games, including a 31-point performance in Game 1 (si.com).
- NBA Finals Game 7: Though shooting just 8 of 27, he logged 29 points and 12 assists—crucial for claiming the Finals MVP r league MVPs to also win the championship in the same year. Since 2000, only LeBron (twice), Tim Duncan, and Steph Curry (2015) have pulled it off. SGA joins their elite ranks
- Kentucky Wildcat (2017–18): A one-and-done freshman who averaged 14.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.1 RPG and earned All-SEC honors
- NBA Draft & Early Years:
- Drafted 11th in 2018 by Charlotte; trade to Clippers, then packaged to OKC in the Paul George deal
- Gradually grew from 10.8 PPG rookie to 31–32 PPG sta
- Ascending Through Leadership:
- Finished runner-up in MVP voting in 2023, then cracked the top spot in 2025
- Anchored playoff runs leading to the Thunder’s first championship .
- A new milestone: Kentucky finally produces its first NBA MVP and first dual MVP + Finals MVP champion—in SGA Calipari legacy elevated: The most successful NBA pro from John Calipari’s era at UK
- Recruiting power: This could bolster Kentucky’s appeal to elite recruits, showing UK can catapult one-and-done talent to the pinnacle of professional success.
- Anthony Davis: NBA Champion, All-Star, but no league MVP
- Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, De’Aaron Fox: Top-30 scorers, but none reached MVP levels or won the Finals MVP
- No prior MVPs: Despite a flow of talented NBA players, none before SGA claimed the MVP crown
- Elite company: Winning both MVP awards in a season places SGA alongside absolute hall-of-famers.
- Kudos from Kentucky media: Outlets like SI, A Sea of Blue, Wildcats Nation, CBSSports, and On3 celebrate SGA’s milestone as one of the best UK-to-NBA storie
- Super-max contract: Positioned to land a 4‑year, $294 million super-max, making him the highest-paid player in history by annual value (on3.com).
- Thunder dynasty potential: With SGA in peak form, OKC could be NBA contenders for many years.
- Kentucky’s recruiting pitch: Can now highlight a path from Lexington to the rarest heights of NBA acclaim.
Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander’s 2024‑25 season is a generational story:
- First Kentucky prodigy to win NBA MVP.
- Only Wildcat to secure both MVP awards in same year since LeBron in 2013.
- Part of NBA elite (11th player) to pull off this rare double.
- Elevates UK’s national program, recruitment, and historical narrative.
His journey—from one-and-done Wildcat, to climbing NBA ranks, to cementing himself as the league’s greatest player this season—is a testament to talent, perseverance, and perfect timing
