Watch my video below to learn more about the qualities that made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the runaway winner in this year’s NBA MVP race.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now officially the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player.
He’s cut from the cloth of other MVPs like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. But his style and his flair for the game are uniquely his.
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Gilgeous-Alexander is unstoppable when you have to guard him one-on-one. You can’t stop him from getting to the rim. His brakes completely freeze his defenders and give him the slightest angles to exploit. Then, his strength allows him to power through small and big defenders alike to finish through contact.
But Gilgeous-Alexander has always been great at attacking the cup. What was different about him this season that enabled him to take home the regular season’s highest individual prize?
For one, he’s added a reliable stepback 3 to go with his slashing ability. He shot 37.5 percent from 3 this season on a career-high 5.7 attempts per game. Whereas Gilgeous-Alexander was previously at his best driving or pulling up for midrange jumpers, this addition has unlocked him as a complete three-level scorer and the most lethal point-producing guard we’ve seen in a long time.
He plays both ends of the floor, too, ranking second in steals and fourth in blocks among guards this season. His defensive playmaking has been on full display in key moments, including a memorable chase-down block on Jayson Tatum earlier this season.
That combination of defense and league-leading scoring has made Gilgeous-Alexander one of the more complete players this game has seen. That’s why he’s the MVP.
