Oklahoma’s legendary NBA win in 2025 will go down in folklore for many reasons. Over the last few decades, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are two players that have etched their names into OKC folklore, going on to have glittering careers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) is the latest name to add himself to the coveted list of NBA Finals MVPs following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship-winning run at the end of last year. Below, we take a look at how he rates alongside some of the other great MVPs that have stood out in finals of yesteryear. Can he add another MVP title to put himself alongside the likes of Steve Nash and Steph Curry in the all-time list?
SGA’s exploding commercial value
The Oklahoma City Thunder is the odds-on favorite to retain their championship next season. Although many variables could dictate whether history repeats itself, the main factor will be if Shai can stay injury-free and continue with his incredible run of form, which was key to last season’s success.
The international nature of the NBA, combined with the fact that many of the top players hail from outside the US, has led to considerable growth in its international reach. The sports betting world has become an increasingly complex and interconnected market.
As the types of welcome propositions and promotions continue to serve all types of American sports markets, for those who can dissect the stats and read between the lines, there’s always some potential value to be found within the vastness of the sports betting markets.
With the likes of Jokic, Doncic and Giannis all becoming household names in the NBA, their commercial value has stretched across the pond and into European markets. Other sports have also tapped into this transatlantic market. Chelsea recently lifted the Club World Cup in the US, which helped catapult their name back into contention among Europe’s elite and added colossal commercial value, especially from an international standpoint.
Shai is one of a handful of Canadians who have risen to the elite level of the NBA. His MVP performance in 2025 meant that Oklahoma City was more than happy to agree to his supermax contract extension. It will net him nearly $300 million between now and the end of the decade, making him one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet.
What he brings to the table
Consistency. That’s what he brings. We could sit here and reel off every attribute he has, which helps him truly stand out. His mid-range shooting is incredible, and some still underrate it. That might sound ridiculous given how much OKC fans have been shouting about it on social media over the last few years, but you only need to look at his conversion percentage of 51%, which puts him in the top 2% of players in NBA history.
Over the last two years, SGA has gone from a fantastic, solid player with enormous potential to a player who has recognized it, culminating in the Championship MVP and putting his name alongside the pantheon of NBA greats. Whether it’s his pump fakes, IQ, ambidextrous proficiency or post moves, we’re looking at one of the greats of this era.
His 2025 season is up there with some of the greatest individual seasons we’ve seen. He scooped up the MVP award for the season, the finals MVP, as well as leading the league in scoring, the only other players who have pulled this off are Kareem, MJ and Shaq — not bad company to keep. Not to mention, he became the first Canadian to win finals MVP. He is a titan and an icon that has imprinted his name into the Oklahoma City Thunder pantheon of all-time greats.
Can SGA repeat the feat next year?
As we touched on earlier, the sports betting companies have Oklahoma City as the favorite to win the championship again. Although the team is brimming with quality throughout, SGA is the beacon of this elite squad. He’s the figurehead and the spine of the franchise, transforming them from an excellent team into one that has the potential to become the top team of their era.
We’re at the precipice; if SGA has another level he can reach, that will be frightening, but all OKC fans want next season is for him to maintain his consistency and performances at the same standard he has achieved in this breakthrough season. He’s a player overflowing with confidence, and he’s part of a solid team unit, including young players like Chet Holmgren, who themselves could have another level they ascend to over the next couple of seasons.
If he can avoid injury, keep his head, and channel into the belief and confidence that led to him leading up every possible award this year, then yes, there’s no reason why SGA cannot repeat the same feat next year and propel himself alongside some of the greats of this century thus far.
It can be easy to make predictions about players when they’re on a hot run of form. It can sometimes feel as though they’re never going to slow down. Since the beginning of this decade, it felt like Steph Curry could never miss a three-pointer. Back in the 90s, Michael Jordan seemed like an invincible, otherworldly basketball figure who was one of the few who had managed to crossover into the realms of broader sporting culture. Gilgeous-Alexander still has some way to go before he finds himself alongside the likes of Jordan, but nobody can dispute that the level he is currently playing at is exciting.
Now that OKC has their hands on a historic title, they’ll be keen to add more while their team is firing on all cylinders. However, there’s always another franchise breathing down your neck, looking to get their hands on the title for themselves. Only time will tell, but it appears that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be a generational talent capable of helping the Thunder secure another championship between now and the end of this decade.