Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emerges Dominates as leading candidate for 2025 NBA Finals MVP honors.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks at his western conference finals MVP trophy after his team defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the western conference finals at Paycom Center.

Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a heavy favorite to win the NBA Finals 2025 MVP. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to their historic season, along with an NBA Finals appearance for the first time in 12 years. The 26-year-old won the regular-season MVP with his staggering performance of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. 

He edged over Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo to win his first MVP title. Moreover, as the Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves to make it to the Finals, he was adjudged the Western Conference Finals MVP. Now, as per several bettors, the Canadian has emerged as an NBA Finals 2025 MVP frontrunner. According to BetMGM, SGA is -625 odds to win the honors, while the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton is second favorite with +700 odds. 

Not only this, but according to Polymarket Sport, SGA has gotten 81% chances to win Finals MVP. It is to be noted that the OKC Thunder are lopsided favorites to win the NBA Championship at -700 odds and 85% chances, according to multiple markets. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander On the Verge of Making NBA History

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the verge of making NBA history. If he wins the NBA Finals MVP, he will be the first player ever to win regular season MVP, Western Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP. Moreover, he will also join an exclusive club and add his name alongside NBA elites with this feat. So far, only ten players have won both the regular-season and Finals MVP honors in the same season. 

Those players are- 

Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)

LeBron James (Miami Heat, 2012, 2013)

Larry Bird (Boston Celtics, 1984, 1986)

Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs, 2003)

Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers, 2000)

Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets, 1994)

Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers, 1987)

Moses Malone (Philadelphia 76ers, 1983)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks, 1971)

Willis Reed (New York Knicks, 1970)