When the Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander along with several other assets to the Thunder in exchange for Paul George back in 2019, everyone expected the move to pay out for OKC in the future. But no one could have predicted that the results would be this great. Six years later, SGA is arguably one of the best players in the NBA, and backing that claim, he just bagged his first MVP trophy.

Yes, the Thunder superstar was a scoring machine all year, averaging a league high 32.7 points. More importantly, he was the best player on the best team, accumulating a whopping 68 regular-season wins. Sure enough, he became the frontrunner to take home the Michael Jordan Trophy, and he did. Obviously, an accomplishment of this magnitude must be followed by an epic celebration. And that’s exactly what the Thunder did, conducting a presser to honor their new MVP and etch his name in the history books. And things got a bit emotional during the ceremony.

Shai stood on the podium surrounded by his teammates, with his wife Hailey Summers and son Ares sitting in the front row. Overwhelmed with emotions, the superstar addressed Hailey’s impact on his journey, “Then, the one and only Hailey Summers… Thankyou…” Before he could finish a sentence, tears filled his eyes as he tried his best to fight them. “I’m sorry, I’m so dramatic.” he remarked, before continuing.

Quickly regaining his composure, SGA continued, “Hailey Summers, thank you for everything you are for me, for our son Ares. You were the first person to show me what love really meant. What love really meant, what sacrifice really meant and I can’t wait to spend the rest of this journey called life with you. 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 and thank you for that. Thankyou everybody.”

Although Hailey and Shai got married last February, they have known each other since 2017, even before SGA even became an NBA player. She has stood by him through thick and thin, and Shai is grateful for it. But Hailey was not the only loved one the superstar was grateful for.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlights one Thunder teammate who has been with him in OKC since Day 1

Apart from the heartwarming message to his wife, SGA also credited his teammates for helping him become the player he is, “None of it’s possible without the guys behind me. The amount of games we won, in the fashion that we won the games, it’s so impressive and it’s probably the main reason why I get the award. So, without them, it’s not possible.” Well, OKC is arguably the deepest team in the NBA, which is one of the reasons Shai got more freedom to score. And the number of wins along with top seed played a major role in him bagging 71 first place votes as compared to Nikola Jokic’s 29. It might not have been possible without his teammates.

Moreover, the MVP had a special message for one teammate in particular – Lu Dort. “Lu was with me my first year in OKC, so the last six years. He was on the team when we were winning ten games a season, to 25 games, to 40, to now 68-70. He’s seen the best version of me, the worst version of me, the pissed off version of me, the happy version of me. We’ve been through thick and thin in the NBA. To have him on the journey has been special,” he remarked.

Yes, the current Thunder squad is extremely young and to have someone like Dort by his side since Day 1 truly helped Shai maximize his potential and grow as a player, and a person. So, while he is the one lifting the trophy, it’s a whole tribe’s effort and support that have led him to this stage. Kudos to him!