Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA Championship since relocating in 2008, NaijNaira can report, after a thrilling Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers.
According to CGTN, Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, claimed the NBA Finals MVP after leading his team to a 103-91 victory that sealed the title on Sunday.
“For me, this is a win for my family, my friends, and everyone who stood by me growing up,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, visibly emotional.
He became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to secure both the regular season and Finals MVP in the same year.
“We’re a team full of competitors. We did what it took to win. We rose to the moment and here we are,” he proudly stated.
Gilgeous-Alexander now stands among NBA legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Shaquille O’Neal as one of only 11 players to win both MVP honors in a single season.
He delivered an electric Game 7 performance, dropping 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, while Chet Holmgren added 18 to help the Thunder complete their incredible season.
Oklahoma City matched the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls with 84 combined wins across the season and playoffs, ranking third all-time.
This championship is officially the Thunder’s second, but their first since moving from Seattle, where the franchise last won as the SuperSonics in 1979.
Indiana led briefly at halftime, but the Thunder outscored them 34-20 in the third quarter to seize control.
Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but the Pacers fell short in their first title chase.
The Thunder’s young core made history as the youngest squad to capture an NBA title in nearly 50 years.
They also became the seventh unique champion in seven years, a streak unmatched in league history.
With this win, Oklahoma City joins an elite list as the ninth franchise to win under NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Article updated 3 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
