Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's ascent to NBA stardom reached its peak as he was named the league's Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season.
And an emotional SGA paid tribute to his wife, Hailey Summers, and the rest of his OKC Thunder teammates in his acceptance speech.
“You were the first person to show me what love really meant, what sacrifice really meant. And I can't wait to spend the rest of this journey called life with you,” Gilgeous-Alexander spoke on Summers.
"I wouldn't be the man I am, I wouldn't be the player I am, I wouldn't be the father I am without you."
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
SGA gets emotional talking about his wife, Hailey Summers, and her impact on his life 🥹🫶
A beautiful moment for the #KiaMVP and his family.
The couple got married in February 2024 and shared a one-year-old son named Ares.
“Thank you for everything. I wouldn't be the man I am, I wouldn't be the player I am, I wouldn't be the father I am without you," the 26-year-old continued.
This poignant moment echoed the heartfelt sentiments expressed by OKC’s first-ever MVP winner, Kevin Durant, way back in 2014 speech when he famously called his mother "the real MVP."
SGA joined Durant and Russell Westbrook (2017) as the only players in Thunder history to cop the league’s highest individual award.
“It's amazing. Any conversation when it's particularly those two guys, but guys who get this award, is hard to even wrap your head around. To even be in the same breath, like I said, it's hard to even put into words,” he commented.
"To even be in the same breath... It's hard to even put into words."
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
SGA talks joining Russ and KD as the only players in @okcthunder history to be named #KiaMVP 🤩 https://t.co/XA9nCcQxZR
He also became just the second player born in Canada to be named MVP and the seventh-straight non-American winner of the award after Nikola Jokic (2024, 2022, 2021), Joel Embiid (2023), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020, 2019).
“I dreamt about it as a kid, but you know as a kid it's a fake dream. But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it's hard to not freak out. It's hard to not be a six-year-old kid again, and I think that's what's allowed me to achieve it,” SGA said when asked at what point in his career did he felt he could play at the highest level.
"I never thought this would happen, I dreamt about it as a kid."@shaiglalex on when he saw winning #KiaMVP as a real possibility 💯🔥 https://t.co/vWio57E6O5 pic.twitter.com/TFsUL0AFiF
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander also expressed his gratitude to his teammates as OKC won a franchise record 68 wins.
“I can’t say enough how much you guys mean to me, and not only as a basketball player, but as family,” he said.
SGA added: “I know you guys know that we do everything together, on and off the court, we do shopping, we eat. You guys are really like my brothers ... Without you guys, none of this would be possible. I want you guys to know that this award is your award, too.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is set to receive the Michael Jordan MVP trophy before tip-off of Game 2 of their Western Conference Finals match against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday (PH time), May 23. Oklahoma City currently holds a 1-0 lead against the Timberwolves.
