There are moments when all the grind, all the late nights, and every drill finally pay off. For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this season was that moment. He didn’t just play well, he brought the Ring home for the first time in Oklahoma. SGA led the entire league with 32.7 points per game, the highest ever by a Finals champion. He dropped at least 20 points in 72 consecutive games, matching a feat not seen since Oscar Robertson in the 1960s. Not even Michael Jordan. Everything just clicked for him, and the world couldn’t look away.

That historic run didn’t just fill the box scores. It brought in the hardware. Shai won the 2024–25 NBA MVP, taking home the Michael Jordan Trophy after carrying OKC to a 68–14 record. He grabbed the NBA Scoring Title, earned a spot on the All-NBA First Team, and became Finals MVP after leading the Thunder to their first championship ever. He even walked away with the 2025 ESPY for Best Male Athlete, proving his dominance even beyond the court!

So, what happens when you dominate that hard? Well, you make fans out of just about everybody, even Pat McAfee. “I saw him and I go… literally stare at him for like five seconds, dead stare,” Pat shared while laughing. At a loss for what to say to Shai, he ended up saying, “Could you have f—ing missed? That would have been cool,” and walked away. That wasn’t a disrespect to the 27-year-old champion, even though Shai may not have gotten that message considering the exact words. “I don’t think he ever missed,” Pat added, summing up what most of us felt during the playoffs.

The appreciation didn’t stop there. Tyrese Haliburton joined the conversation and echoed the same thoughts. “Yeah, for sure… they were the best team all year,” Tyrese said, nodding to OKC’s dominance. Pat kept pushing: “Is SGA the best point getter on Earth?” Tyrese didn’t hesitate, stating, “He’s MVP for a reason.” From getting paint touches to scoring from all three levels, Tyrese had to admit: Shai’s game is elite.

By the end, even Pat had to admit the timing of it all. “On a contract year,” he said in disbelief. He was pointing out how great it is for a player to have such a historic season right before they’re eligible for a new contract or extension. Tyrese just smiled and replied, “Beast.” And honestly, that one word says it all about his performance this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s “free-throw merchant” to franchise cornerstone with the richest deal in history

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has always played through noise, but earlier this postseason, the talk grew louder. Fans labeled him a “free-throw merchant,” questioning whether his scoring came more from whistles than skill. During Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Minnesota fans chanted the phrase every time he stepped to the line. He was asked about it afterward, and his response didn’t come with anger, just composure. “In terms of the label, I don’t care,” he said. “I never cared.”

It wasn’t just about brushing off the hate. He backed it up on the court in the loudest way possible. That same night, SGA dropped 40 points, including 12-of-14 from the free-throw line. He didn’t flinch. “I think because we’re on top of everybody’s radar, it’s a little more noticeable,” he added. “Now people care about it. I kind of see it as a compliment.” By the time the Thunder reached the NBA Finals, that noise disappeared. He had proven what real dominance looks like.

By season’s end, there were no doubters left. The man who had once been overlooked was now the league’s most valuable player, a Finals MVP, and a champion. So when the Thunder rewarded him with a record-shattering contract, it felt earned. On July 8, OKC and SGA agreed to a 4-year, $285 million extension. The deal will give him the highest single-season average salary in NBA history: around $63 million in year one and $79 million in the final season. That’s roughly $1 million per game.

But money didn’t change the mindset. “We definitely still have room to grow,” SGA said after winning the Finals. “That’s the fun part of this. So many of us can still get better.” General Manager Sam Presti echoed that belief, calling him a “basketball artist” who balances creativity and precision. This isn’t just about past success; rather, it’s about what’s next.