You know how most high-scoring MVPs do it, right? Live at the line. Master the flop. Game the refs. It’s practically an NBA rite of passage at this point. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? He looked at that blueprint and said, “I’m good, thanks.”

Two years ago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a promising but unproven star. In the 2022-23 season, he averaged 31.4 points per game, leading a rebuilding Thunder squad to just 34 wins and missing the playoffs. The common critique was that his scoring didn’t translate to team success or MVP-level impact. This season though, the man just wrapped up an MVP season for the ages, leading the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game. Turns out, being MVP doesn’t mean living in the free-throw line.

But if you’re assuming that came with a James Harden–esque parade to the charity stripe every night, think again. In fact, despite his elite numbers, Shai attempted 669 free throws this season. And while that might be good for second in the league, it is hardly historic. You want to guess who was first?

Giannis, with 707. And that’s it. It’s a two-man list. Now in MVP history, 669 free throws doesn’t even crack the top 20. Because when you stack his numbers up against past MVPs? He ranks just 27th in free throw attempts among league MVPs. Yup, right between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Pretty elite sandwich to be in, honestly.

And now? Shai’s MVP award sets him up for a historic payday. Under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, he’ll be eligible for a supermax extension in summer 2026. The projected deal? A five-year contract worth approximately $379.8 million—the largest extension ever in league history. That contract would start at $65.5 million for the 2027-28 season and grow to $86.5 million by 2031-32.

The MVP Blueprint Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shattered, and what it means for the League

Now, sure, Shai gets to the line. But what makes this MVP run so compelling is that he doesn’t rely on it. He’s not gaming the system or baiting contact. His game is fluid, almost surgical—built on footwork, pace, and that mid-range sweet spot that defenses still can’t seem to figure out. He shot 51% from mid-range this year. That’s 98th percentile. Wow, yes, same.

Naturally, some skeptics have tried to tag him with the tired old label: “free throw merchant.” But the game and the numbers tell a different story. Shai’s drives are efficient, his patience unmatched, and his feel for contact is less about drawing fouls and more about keeping defenders on a string. He doesn’t hunt whistles. He hunts buckets. A man of culture, for sure.

And that’s what separates this MVP season from many of the recent ones. Over the past decade, we’ve seen award-winning campaigns powered by free throws—James Harden in 2018 attempted over 850, and Joel Embiid cleared 720 in 2023. Those were dominant, sure. But Shai’s approach shows you can lead the league in scoring with efficiency and skill, not just sheer volume of calls. His 62.2% true shooting on a massive usage rate is rarefied air.

So while Giannis technically edged him out in attempts, and yes, Jokic might’ve had the prettier efficiency stats, no one combined it all quite like Shai this season. MVPs come in all play styles. Some dominate through brute force. Some finesse the game at the line. Shai? He just played beautiful, balanced basketball. And think about that balance for a bit…

Shai’s been that guy all season long. And in the playoffs? 29.2 points, 6.6 assists, 5.8 boards across 12 games, without launching threes like Steph or leaning on whistles like Harden. That’s MVP basketball without the shortcuts. Add to that how he made 669 free throws in 82 games without missing time, leading a young Thunder team to a top-two seed in the West. That kind of availability and impact? It elevates the value of every single point he scored, free throws or not. And it tells the league that there’s more than one way to dominate.

If anything, his MVP proves that in today’s NBA, you can still be elite without living at the stripe. You just need an unstoppable in-between game, some icy composure, and a whole lot of craft. In Shai’s case? A crown doesn’t hurt either. And maybe that’s the scariest part. Shai didn’t need the theatrics. He just needed the ball, a whistle, and the nerve to knock it down. Again. And again. And again.

So then next time, if someone says you need 800 free throws to be MVP? Just point them to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and take your win home. Until then, we’ll be covering more such stories. Keep an eye out, folks.