The pick is in and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the 2023 recipient of the Northern Star Award.
The annual award, formerly known as the Lou Marsh Trophy, is given to Canada’s athlete of the year based on votes from members of the media.
Gilgeous-Alexander led Team Canada to a historic bronze-medal finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
In the process of doing so, the men’s basketball team also qualified for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, their first Olympic berth since 2000.
He also stood out on the NBA court, averaging 31.4 points a game with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
Gilgeous-Alexander was named to the prestigious All-NBA first team after the 2022-23 campaign.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the second basketball player to receive the award after Steve Nash did so in 2005.
Other names considered for the prestigious honour this year were Connor McDavid, Summer McIntosh, Camryn Rogers and Nick Taylor.
