Son of a 400 -meter ex -attached ex -Barr. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become the best player of the 2024-25 season in the NBA. An award, that of MVP, which rewards its great season, in which Máximo Hardad has been proclaimed (32.7 points), but also the collective exhibition of its team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The franchise has reached the fourth best brand in history in the regular season (68 wins and 14 losses) and now fights in the west final to reach the finals to fight for the ring, where it is a favorite against Minnesota, who wins 1-0, and before the East teams (Indiana and New York).
An emigrant of basketball
Gilgeous-Alexander, who was born in Toronto, is the seventh foreigner who proclaims MVP of the NBA consecutivelysince since 2018 the prize does not win. After James Harden did, the Greek Giannis Antetokompo (2019 and 2020), the Serbian Nikola Jokic (2021, 2022 and 2024), the Cameroonian Joel Embiid (2023) and now the Canadian.
Shai, named Shaivonte Aician, started playing in Hamilton, at the St-Thomas More Catholic School, from which he moved to that of Sir Allan Macnab. Despite not being a dominant player (with his 1.98 he does not reach two meters), his ease of scoring and his athletic capacity caught attention and He moved to the United States in search of making a career at the Basket. In 2016 he went to a basketball camp without borders, a campus organized by the NBA along with the FIBA to discover talents. He caught the attention of Florida, Kentucky, Kansas, Syracuse, Texas and UNLV, who fought to recruit him, taking the cat to Kentucky water.
Upon arriving at the Campus, his mane was cut and took command of a team that gathered an unusual feature: his titular quintet was formed by five freshman (First year players). Together with Shai, Hamidou Diallo (Wizards), Nick Richards (Suns), Kevin Knox II (Warriors) and PJ Washington (Dallas) played. June 21, 2018 Gilgeous-Alexander was selected in the 11th place of the Draft by Charlotte Hornets, who transferred it that day to Los Angeles Clippers. One year it lasted in Los Angeles, because in July 2019 the clippers sent him to Oklahoma with Danilo Gallinari and five first -round teams of the Draft in exchange for Paul George.
Since 2019 Shai has not stopped growing offensively in OKC, which earned him In August 2021 to sign with the Thunder an extension for five seasons and 172 million dollars. Gilgeous-Alxander, who became a franchise player, has triggered his versatility becoming statistically equated with Michael Jordan, averaging at least 30 points, four rebounds, four assists, a robbery and a plug throwing while above 50% in field shots. And next to its growth triggered the team, which has already taken to the finals of the NBA and with which it has fought for a ring pursued this year.
Creative Basketball Director of Converse
Gilgeous-Alexander is not a conventional guy, he is someone committed to what surrounds him. AND Not only emulates Michael Jordan on the court. In addition to the 35.8 million salary that will charge this year with Oklahoma, add another 15 'kilos' per year for the multiannual contract signed last year with Converse (owned by Nike), where he was also appointed Creative Basketball Director of the brand. Shai opted to Converse instead of the 'Jordan' brand to make his own road with his shoes. The Canadian created its logo and drew the initial designs of the 'Shai 001', its first exclusive 'zapa'. It was presented in February, with a striking gold color, but it will be this fall when it will flood half -world stores. And to this it is added that a few months ago he decided to separate from his agent, Thad Foucher, from the Wasserman firm, representing himself. Something that also produces months of signing an extension with the Thunder that will be around 300 million for four seasons. It is estimated that 4% will be saved in agent expenses, around 11 million.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with his wife Hailey Summers, and his son Ares Alexander / Associated Press/LaPresse / LAP
Shai is clear. “I want to be an integral person. Not just a basketball player. Also entrepreneur, father and husband. I want to meet all the requirements “he declared after confirming that he broke with his agent. It is taken for granted that in the renewal by the Thunder it will include clauses to have decision -making capacity in internal franchise policies and in the construction of the workforce. Something unusual. Where he has representative is out of the track. Simon Gebrelul, from Isla Management, has made it one of the best paid by its sponsors with agreements around 18 million annually. And in networks four million followers follow their singular posts, where he personally writes lyrical texts that accompanies images of parties and fashion.
2024 was a special year for Personal Shai, By marrying his high school girlfriend, Hailey Summers, and having Ares, his first child. “Being a father has changed my life radically,” he warned after the happy news. 2025 is being in sports. To which many point out as the heir of Jordan, for his charisma and leadership, he has just won his first MVP, although now he only has eyes for his first NBA ring.
