Shai Gilgeous-Alexander thanks wife, Thunder after winning NBA MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shows a lot of gratitude and uncontrollable tears in his NBA MVP speech from the Thunder practice facility on May 21.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder teammates all posed for one last group photo, and before the flash captured them, wrists were held high.
He’d handed them Rolexes like Oprah, and they all couldn’t wait to show them off.
Yes, on Shai’s day, when he was named NBA MVP, the Thunder star had gift baskets awaiting his teammates. Inside, each of them found their own watch. It was Jaylin Williams’ idea, no surprise considering he lobbied hardest for the Thunder to win the NBA Cup for the prize money. It surfaced one day last season, when SGA first materialized his MVP candidacy.
“He was like, ‘2, what are you going to get us when you win MVP?’ It’s a crazy question to ask,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But I don’t know what brought it up, but watches was in the conversation. A lot of guys on the team like watches. Who doesn’t like watches?”
When Wednesday’s reality became clearer, SGA knew he had to follow through — a small gesture compared to what he assured them they did for him.
“I would rather have the MVP over a Rolex every day of the week,” the 26-year-old guard said, “and without them I wouldn’t have the MVP, so this is in the slightest what they deserve.”
Here are three more takeaways from SGA’s MVP news conference Wednesday night:
SGA gets emotional thanking his wife, Hailey
Gilgeous-Alexander’s speech was as steady as his play. Every name, every thank you — all until he reached his wife, Hailey Summers.
He’s been elbowed and thrown around like a rag doll on court. He’s been pushed to physical exhaustion. He’s been stabbed in the gut by postseason despair. The world still never saw him break down in tears until Wednesday, when he hoped to thank his wife with wet eyes.
“Sorry, I’m so dramatic,” he paused, wiping his face.
“Hailey Summers, thank you for everything you are for me, for our son, Aries. You were the first person to show me what love really meant. What sacrifice really meant. I can’t wait to spend the rest of this journey called life with you. So thank you for everything. I wouldn’t be the man I am, I wouldn’t be the player I am, I wouldn’t be the father I am without you, so thank you for that.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Steve Nash as second Canadian to win MVP
A foreign-born player has won the NBA MVP award in each of the last seven seasons. Three have gone to Nikola Jokic, two to Giannis Antetokounmpo and one to Joel Embiid.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the son of Hamilton, Ontario, is the latest international player to win the league’s most coveted individual honor. Gilgeous-Alexander joined Steve Nash, who won back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006, as the second Canadian to win the award.
After giving his acceptance speech, the first question SGA fielded Wednesday night was about sharing company with Nash.
“He set the foundation,” SGA said. “He was the first Canadian basketball player I knew of, and without seeing guys go to the NBA from Canada, it wouldn’t have been as much of a dream as it was for us as kids growing up.
“To be in the conversation with a guy like that and what he’s meant to not only basketball but to the country of Canada has been special.”
SGA shares MVP moment with Mark Daigneault
Gilgeous-Alexander straight up giggled when asked about the influence of Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.
Daigneault, sitting in the front row of the ceremony, shook his head in jest.
“I’m going to be nice,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Mark is insane.”
Everyone gathered on the practice court cracked up.
“He’s insane in the best way possible,” SGA said. “He is so annoying with how particular he is with little things … He’s so focused on the things that matter, and he does not let those slip no matter what. And it doesn’t matter if it’s raining outside, sunny outside, I just had 100 points, if I just had two points. He holds me to a standard that never wavers, and that mentality has helped me not only in my game and as a basketball player but as a leader for sure.
“I now know what it takes to lead the right way. He’s helped me in tremendous ways with that. That’s helped me become a better player for sure. Thanks, Coach.”
