Watch my video below to learn more about the qualities that made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the runaway winner in this year’s NBA MVP race.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now officially the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player.
He’s cut from the cloth of other MVPs like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. But his style and his flair for the game are uniquely his.
Advertisement
Gilgeous-Alexander is unstoppable when you have to guard him one-on-one. You can’t stop him from getting to the rim. His brakes completely freeze his defenders and give him the slightest angles to exploit. Then, his strength allows him to power through small and big defenders alike to finish through contact.
But Gilgeous-Alexander has always been great at attacking the cup. What was different about him this season that enabled him to take home the regular season’s highest individual prize?
For one, he’s added a reliable stepback 3 to go with his slashing ability. He shot 37.5 percent from 3 this season on a career-high 5.7 attempts per game. Whereas Gilgeous-Alexander was previously at his best driving or pulling up for midrange jumpers, this addition has unlocked him as a complete three-level scorer and the most lethal point-producing guard we’ve seen in a long time.
He plays both ends of the floor, too, ranking second in steals and fourth in blocks among guards this season. His defensive playmaking has been on full display in key moments, including a memorable chase-down block on Jayson Tatum earlier this season.
That combination of defense and league-leading scoring has made Gilgeous-Alexander one of the more complete players this game has seen. That’s why he’s the MVP.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman searched for his old splitter, and he might have finally found it
TORONTO — When Kevin Gausman needed an out, he turned to his signature pitch.With Luis Arraez bouncing off third base, threatening to score in Wednesday’s first inning, the Toronto Blue Jays starter fired a two-strike splitter to the bottom of the zone. The pitch lingered in the air before diving under Jackson Merrill’s whiffing bat for an inning-ending strikeout.AdvertisementThat pitch is the one Gausman’s been looking for, the exact fall-off-the-table splitter that made him one of baseball’s best pitchers.Gausman had it all day, throwing seven shutout innings as the Blue Jays’ offence exploded in a 14-0 win over the San Diego Padres. But before Wednesday’s shutout, the floor-scratching splitter eluded Gausman. If he’s truly rediscovered it, the split could help Gausman regain peak form and become the ace the Blue Jays need.“I’m fighting to find that consistent split that goes […]
Pacers vs. Knicks recap: Indiana takes Game 1 after stunning comeback, Tyrese Haliburton’s bouncing buzzer-beater
The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals by virtue of a record number of ridiculous comebacks. That bore out in Game 1.On Wednesday, it was the Knicks yielding a late lead to a furious Pacers surge, then falling 138-135 in overtime to complete one of the most stunning games of an NBA playoffs that had already set a high mark for drama.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNew York led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter and by eight with a minute and a half to go. That should have been enough, but Aaron Nesmith kept making 3-pointers, five of them in the final four minutes of regulation to be exact.The game came down to one final possession for the Pacers, down two points with 7.3 seconds left. The ball naturally reached the hands of Tyrese […]
Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer beater sends Game 1 to overtime
<!--> Tyrese Haliburton hit a step-back long two-pointer to beat the buzzer and send Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to overtime. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! --> recommended Get more from Indiana Pacers Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Stars turn former weakness into strength, rally to beat Oilers in Game 1: Takeaways
DALLAS — Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer had a very quick response when asked before Game 1 what he had learned from last spring’s Western Conference final loss to the Oilers.“Don’t go 0-for-14 on the power play,” he said.How does 3-for-4 sound?The Stars scored three power-play goals in the first six minutes of the third period to turn a 3-1 deficit into a stunning 4-3 lead, and went on to win 6-3 on Wednesday — their second straight Game 1 victory after dropping eight in a row. Game 2 is Friday night at American Airlines Center.AdvertisementThe trio of power-play goals was even more remarkable given how horrendous the Dallas power play had been through the first two periods — the Stars could barely get any time in the offensive zone with the man advantage, let alone get a shot on […]
Christian Pulisic missing Gold Cup: Bad look for the player, bad break for USMNT
Christian Pulisic has long been the tone-setting player on this U.S. men’s national team, a leader by example who has been counted on in the program’s biggest moments.With just more than a year left to prepare for the World Cup, however, the U.S. will have to work its way out of a major slump without its most important player.AdvertisementPulisic will not be a part of the U.S.’s Gold Cup roster, sources confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday night. The news was first reported by Fox Sports. The 26-year-old winger seemingly wants a break after a long season with AC Milan. He has nursed and played through several slight injuries over the course of the Serie A campaign. The hope is that resting Pulisic in the Gold Cup will give him a better chance at being healthy for next season and, […]
NFL to reward its ‘unsung heroes’ with an OL Protector of the Year Award
<!--> Offensive linemen may get acknowledged and credited by their teammates and coaches, but they don't often receive recognition from the external NFL community and have never won individual accolades for their efforts. In 2025, that will change. The NFL introduced the Protector of the Year Award at the league's spring meeting on Wednesday. It will be given to the best offensive lineman each season and handed out at the annual NFL Honors event, alongside the Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and many other prestigious achievements. "We might not have all the fancy stats or end up on a highlight reel every week," Buffalo Bills tackle Dion Dawkins said. "But without us, there's no rushing titles, passing titles, or touchdowns." ADVERTISEMENT -->Josh Allen, the MVP of the 2024 NFL season, would likely agree with his […]
Related
Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman searched for his old splitter, and he might have finally found it
TORONTO — When Kevin Gausman needed an out, he turned to his signature pitch.With Luis Arraez bouncing off third base, threatening to score in Wednesday’s first inning, the Toronto Blue Jays starter fired a two-strike splitter to the bottom of the zone. The pitch lingered in the air before diving under Jackson Merrill’s whiffing bat for an inning-ending strikeout.AdvertisementThat pitch is the one Gausman’s been looking for, the exact fall-off-the-table splitter that made him one of baseball’s best pitchers.Gausman had it all day, throwing seven shutout innings as the Blue Jays’ offence exploded in a 14-0 win over the San Diego Padres. But before Wednesday’s shutout, the floor-scratching splitter eluded Gausman. If he’s truly rediscovered it, the split could help Gausman regain peak form and become the ace the Blue Jays need.“I’m fighting to find that consistent split that goes […]
Pacers vs. Knicks recap: Indiana takes Game 1 after stunning comeback, Tyrese Haliburton’s bouncing buzzer-beater
The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals by virtue of a record number of ridiculous comebacks. That bore out in Game 1.On Wednesday, it was the Knicks yielding a late lead to a furious Pacers surge, then falling 138-135 in overtime to complete one of the most stunning games of an NBA playoffs that had already set a high mark for drama.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNew York led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter and by eight with a minute and a half to go. That should have been enough, but Aaron Nesmith kept making 3-pointers, five of them in the final four minutes of regulation to be exact.The game came down to one final possession for the Pacers, down two points with 7.3 seconds left. The ball naturally reached the hands of Tyrese […]
Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer beater sends Game 1 to overtime
<!--> Tyrese Haliburton hit a step-back long two-pointer to beat the buzzer and send Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to overtime. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! --> recommended Get more from Indiana Pacers Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Stars turn former weakness into strength, rally to beat Oilers in Game 1: Takeaways
DALLAS — Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer had a very quick response when asked before Game 1 what he had learned from last spring’s Western Conference final loss to the Oilers.“Don’t go 0-for-14 on the power play,” he said.How does 3-for-4 sound?The Stars scored three power-play goals in the first six minutes of the third period to turn a 3-1 deficit into a stunning 4-3 lead, and went on to win 6-3 on Wednesday — their second straight Game 1 victory after dropping eight in a row. Game 2 is Friday night at American Airlines Center.AdvertisementThe trio of power-play goals was even more remarkable given how horrendous the Dallas power play had been through the first two periods — the Stars could barely get any time in the offensive zone with the man advantage, let alone get a shot on […]
Christian Pulisic missing Gold Cup: Bad look for the player, bad break for USMNT
Christian Pulisic has long been the tone-setting player on this U.S. men’s national team, a leader by example who has been counted on in the program’s biggest moments.With just more than a year left to prepare for the World Cup, however, the U.S. will have to work its way out of a major slump without its most important player.AdvertisementPulisic will not be a part of the U.S.’s Gold Cup roster, sources confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday night. The news was first reported by Fox Sports. The 26-year-old winger seemingly wants a break after a long season with AC Milan. He has nursed and played through several slight injuries over the course of the Serie A campaign. The hope is that resting Pulisic in the Gold Cup will give him a better chance at being healthy for next season and, […]
NFL to reward its ‘unsung heroes’ with an OL Protector of the Year Award
<!--> Offensive linemen may get acknowledged and credited by their teammates and coaches, but they don't often receive recognition from the external NFL community and have never won individual accolades for their efforts. In 2025, that will change. The NFL introduced the Protector of the Year Award at the league's spring meeting on Wednesday. It will be given to the best offensive lineman each season and handed out at the annual NFL Honors event, alongside the Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and many other prestigious achievements. "We might not have all the fancy stats or end up on a highlight reel every week," Buffalo Bills tackle Dion Dawkins said. "But without us, there's no rushing titles, passing titles, or touchdowns." ADVERTISEMENT -->Josh Allen, the MVP of the 2024 NFL season, would likely agree with his […]
Be the first to leave a comment