Alright, vibe check in OKC: the Paycom Center’s about to be louder than your uncle yelling “I told y’all about this team back in November.” The Thunder are here. The NBA Finals are here. And the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Revenge & Redemption Tour™ is alive and well. No more play-in jokes, no more rebuild slander — this young core just pulled up to basketball’s biggest stage with receipts.

And at the center of it all is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, moving like he’s been scripting this moment for years. He’s not just the MVP — he’s the architect of a 68-win masterclass, the guy who dropped 40 in a closeout game, and the face of a franchise that flipped “too young to win” into “too good to stop.”

He even joined elite company this year, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring, win MVP, and reach the Finals in the same season, right alongside Steph, Iverson, Shaq, MJ, and Kareem. Forget the three-ball arms race — Shai’s over here slicing up defenses with midrange precision, footwork sorcery, and enough free throws to make James Harden nod in approval.

Now the million-dollar question: Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing tonight? Oh, he’s playing. He’s fully healthy and ready to put Indiana’s perimeter defense on the world’s largest poster. He hasn’t missed a game since the conference semis, and if anything, he looks more locked in than ever. Remember, this is the guy who dropped 32.7 a night and stole the MVP from Nikola Jokic.

As for the rest of the Thunder? Mostly good news. Nikola Topic is still out with a knee injury, so the Euro-wonder will be in street clothes. Bummer, sure, but he hasn’t been part of the core rotation anyway. Everyone else? Ready to roll.

But beyond the X’s and O’s, injuries and matchups, there’s a deeper layer to Shai’s Finals journey—one stitched into every step he takes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Making Canada Proud—And Doing It in His Brother’s Favorite Color

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just trying to win a ring—he’s building a legacy. The 2025 MVP has already made history as the first Canadian-born player to win the award and reach the NBA Finals in the same season. But while the spotlight gets brighter, Shai’s story somehow gets more grounded. It’s not just about the buckets anymore. It’s about family. And he’s wearing that story—literally—on his feet.

Enter the Converse SHAI 001s: SGA’s signature sneaker line that dropped this season under his own creative direction as Converse’s Basketball Creative Director. These aren’t just sneakers—they’re his personal tribute album. Each colorway in the SHAI 001 lineup is a nod to someone in his family, a chapter from his life. And the one he’s debuting on basketball’s biggest stage? That’s “Masi Blue”—a heartfelt homage to his younger brother, Thomasi.

“This is my brother’s favorite color,” Shai shared during media availability. “Growing up, he had some fake Air Jordans that were this color. He wore them everywhere.” That memory—simple, funny, totally real—is now immortalized in the Finals. He even added a personal message on the shoe: “Dedicated to the one that remains stoic and as cool as ice under pressure, my brother Masi. This one is for you.”

The Masi Blue isn’t the only colorway with a backstory. The debut “Butter” colorway reflected the warmth and comfort of the home his family created for him. Future editions of the SHAI 001 will include other family-inspired drops—each one built around personalities, memories, and the people who shaped Shai into the MVP he is today.

That’s what really sets Shai apart. The stats? Of course—they’re impressive: 32.7 points per game, the top seed, and the MVP. But beyond the numbers, the true soul of it all? That’s family. Whether it’s his brother’s favorite kicks or even his mom’s voice in his head pushing him to grind, he’s carrying them with him every step of the way.

So, this isn’t just about bringing a championship to OKC. Ultimately, it’s about honoring the people who got him here—and doing it in a pair of shoes that tell the story better than words ever could.

.