Canadian star Gilgeous-Alexander caps off MVP season by leading Thunder to NBA title

What a season it was for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The 26-year-old Canadian NBA star led his Oklahoma City Thunder to the franchise’s first title since relocating from Seattle in 2008, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in a winner-take-all game seven Sunday night.

Top dawgs 🐶 pic.twitter.com/q2CzqCBEnp

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 23, 2025

It was already a banner season for Gilgeous-Alexander, having helped the Thunder to 68 wins during the regular season, winning NBA MVP and earning the league’s scoring title.

He was also named to both the NBA All-Star team and All-NBA First Team for the third consecutive season.

During the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander was named Western Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP.

The Toronto native is just the fourth player in NBA history to win NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP and the NBA scoring title in the same season.

He joins a small and impressive list that also includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.

2️⃣ iconic. pic.twitter.com/zu8HJaznCZ

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 23, 2025

It wasn’t just Gilgeous-Alexander who made a mark on the NBA Finals from a Canadian perspective.

Montreal’s Luguentz Dort was a key factor for Oklahoma City through the season and playoffs, earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

There were also a pair of Canadians on the losing side, as Andrew Nembhard from Aurora, Ont., and Bennedict Methurin from Montreal both played important roles for the Pacers in defeat.

Gilgeous-Alexander has established himself as one of the faces of the NBA and he’s also becoming an icon for Canadian basketball fans.

Canada currently has 22 players on NBA rosters, making it the second-most represented country in the league behind the United States.