In all, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is cementing his legacy in NBA history, after taking the 2024-25 season by storm. He’s received awards that are even more than those won by hall of famers such as Lenny Wilkens, Russell Westbrook and Dwyane Wade. His standout performance not only earned him the scoring title but the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. On the court, he guided the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first championship—the franchise’s first championship ever—recording the best point differential in history.
Throughout this epoch-making campaign, Gilgeous-Alexander on a nightly basis dropped a mind-boggling 32.7 points per game. This accomplishment was the most points per game for any player who won a title that same year. He made history by trumping Michael Jordan, who averaged 32.6 points per game of his own championship-winning 1992-93 season, in the per game scoring race. While he’s accomplished much more in his young career, this feat cements Gilgeous-Alexander’s status with the greats of basketball lore.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the 26-year-old point guard. From being traded twice in his rookie year to now becoming the league’s driving king, his journey has been both challenging and rewarding. He is looking to sign a four-year extension—$293.4 million. If he pulls it off, it’ll create a new benchmark for the largest average salary in NBA history, reflecting his clear and profound influence on the game.
Historic Achievements and Comparisons
Even aside from that individual brilliance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s accomplishments this season have left him in a special category of elite players. He holds an amazing honor with only a few other GOATs, like Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. With the implementation of the shot clock, the last players to win the scoring title and the championship in the same season. He’s one of just two players ever to reach such a remarkable feat by age 26. Along with Abdul-Jabbar, he’s already won an MVP award, a Finals MVP and a scoring title.
While Gilgeous-Alexander does not yet possess the comprehensive career statistics of some of basketball’s all-time greats, his accolades speak volumes. He placed first, second, and fifth in MVP voting during his career. That remarkable accomplishment places him 35th all-time in career MVP award shares — a testament to his sustained brilliance at the highest level.
He had the most incredible offense ever recorded, averaging 30+ PPG while shooting a 62%+ true shooting percentage. This last achievement, along with Adrian Dantley, is evidence of his scoring prowess and overall efficiency as a player. Such accomplishments rank him among the most exclusive talents in NBA history.
The Driving Force Behind His Success
Probably the most iconic element of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s game is his eurostep. He’s been the league’s undisputed driving champ for multiple seasons, topping this important category annually. In the last five seasons, he’s built a cushion of more than 1,000 drives on his closest competition, Luka Doncic.
Along with his prolific scoring, Gilgeous-Alexander’s defense has been a big reason he’s stood out. He led the league in steals last season, rounding out the skill set that goes beyond just offensive firepower. It’s this unrivaled offensive explosiveness paired with elite defensive tenacity that truly makes him a dual threat on the court.
Though his isolations have turned out to be deadly effective. He’s second among all 128 players with at least 300 total isolation plays for points per isolation. His ability to create scoring opportunities in one-on-one situations is the icing on the cake when it comes to his offensive dominance.
Overcoming Challenges and Growing Recognition
The path to Gilgeous-Alexander’s emergence as one of the NBA’s best young talents wasn’t always a smooth one. In his first full season, he stole the show. He was only a second-team All-Rookie performer, due to the fact that Marvin Bagley III made the first team. After this demoralizing experience, Wiggins could have been beaten down by the stigma of failure, but hopelessness only made him want to change.
The same trades that laid the foundation for his career carved out his will. The Charlotte Hornets took him first overall. Then, on draft night, they flipped him to the LA Clippers and he quickly found his way to Oklahoma City as part of the package for Paul George. Any of these transitions might have prevented him from developing. Rather, they were giving him valuable challenges that filled out his growth as a player.
Gilgeous-Alexander is still re-setting the record books and raising the bar. His notable accomplishments have brought him widespread acclaim and praise from around the world within the riding sport. His combination of talent and work ethic has him well on his way to being one of the best to ever play the game of basketball.
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