Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins the 2025 WCF MVP and the dream of an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on a mission—and the entire basketball world is taking notice. After dominating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar has been named the 2025 Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy winner, awarded to the MVP of the Western Conference Finals.

SGA’s elite play carried Oklahoma City to a commanding 4-1 series win over Minnesota, capped off with a 34-point performance in Game 5, where the Thunder delivered a 124-94 blowout victory. With that win, the Thunder are heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012—and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the man at the center of it all.

SGA’s Dominance Seals the Series for Oklahoma City

From the opening tip of Game 1 to the closing minutes of Game 5, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was in total control. His stats over the five-game series were staggering:

• 31.4 points per game

• 8.2 assists per game

• 5.2 rebounds per game

• 1.8 steals per game

• .457 FG%, .318 3PT%, .863 FT%

But beyond the numbers, it was SGA’s presence, poise, and leadership that made the difference. Every time the Timberwolves mounted a challenge, he was there to snuff it out—either with a timely bucket, a clutch assist, or a game-seizing run.

In Game 5, with the Thunder looking to close out the series at home, SGA erupted for 34 points, guiding his team to an emphatic 30-point win and booking their ticket to the 2025 NBA Finals.

The Turning Point: Game 4 Heroics from SGA

Things briefly looked dicey for Oklahoma City in Game 3, when the Timberwolves stormed back with a jaw-dropping 42-point blowout win to cut the Thunder’s series lead to 2–1. With Game 4 in Minnesota as well, the pressure was on—lose, and the series is tied.

But that’s when SGA elevated to another level.

In what might go down as the signature performance of his career so far, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 40 points and 10 assists in a thrilling 128-126 win on the road. The game went down to the wire, but SGA’s relentless scoring and unshakeable confidence carried the Thunder to victory and a crucial 3–1 series lead.

That performance turned the tide—and may have saved the series.

A Championship Is Within Reach

With the Timberwolves dispatched, the Thunder are now just four wins away from an NBA title. This young team—once viewed as rebuilding—has grown into a formidable championship contender, largely on the back of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP campaign.

The Thunder will now face either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. Both teams are tough, gritty, and well-coached, but the Thunder’s blend of young talent, speed, and defensive tenacity makes them a nightmare matchup.

More importantly, they have the best player left in the playoffs.

SGA: First Regular Season MVP, Now Conference Finals MVP

This postseason dominance is just the latest chapter in what has been a historic year for SGA. Earlier this month, he was named the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player, beating out elite competition like Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić. That honor alone was enough to validate his rise into superstardom.

Now, with the Western Conference Finals MVP trophy in hand as well, Gilgeous-Alexander is putting together one of the most complete and dominant seasons in recent NBA history.

Should the Thunder win the title, SGA is the heavy favorite to take home the Finals MVP—completing a trifecta that would cement him among the game’s all-time greats.

Canada’s Superstar Leads the Charge

Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become a national icon in Canada. His performance has shined a spotlight on the surging wave of Canadian talent in the NBA.

Alongside SGA, the Thunder also feature Luguentz Dort, a defensive anchor from Montreal, Quebec. On the other side of the bracket, the Indiana Pacers boast two Canadian standouts in Bennedict Mathurin (Montreal) and Andrew Nembhard (Aurora, Ontario).

With a potential SGA vs. Mathurin/Nembhard matchup looming in the NBA Finals, Canadian fans are witnessing a golden era for their homegrown stars.

SGA Steps Up in Every Crucial Moment

What makes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so special isn’t just his talent—it’s his timing. Time and time again in this series, he rose to the occasion when his team needed him most:

• Games 1 & 2: Set the tone with 31 and 38 points respectively, putting OKC up 2–0.

• Game 3: The lone stumble, as Minnesota blew out the Thunder.

• Game 4: Responded with 40 points and 10 assists in a must-win game on the road.

• Game 5: Slammed the door with a 34-point masterpiece to clinch the series.

This kind of consistency and clutch play is rare—even among elite players. For the Thunder, having a player like SGA means knowing they can weather any storm.

The Thunder’s Unexpected Rise

When the season began, few analysts had the Oklahoma City Thunder as serious title contenders. They were seen as a promising young team with potential, but still a few years away from being truly competitive.

Fast forward to May 2025, and they’re the Western Conference Champions, boasting the best net rating of any team in the playoffs and the league’s most dangerous backcourt.

Coach Mark Daigneault deserves credit for his strategic schemes and player development, but the heart and soul of this squad is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s the one turning potential into results—and now he’s four wins away from completing one of the most impressive individual seasons in NBA history.

NBA Finals Preview: Can Anyone Stop SGA?

Whether it’s the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers that emerge from the East, they’ll have one massive problem to solve: how to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

So far in the playoffs, no team has been able to contain him. His ability to control the tempo, draw fouls, and knock down contested shots makes him a nearly unguardable force.

And let’s not forget—SGA plays defense too. His on-ball pressure and anticipation have been instrumental in shutting down opposing guards and sparking transition opportunities for OKC.

If he continues at this level, the Thunder may not just be in the Finals—they might be favorites to win it all.

What’s at Stake for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

A few months ago, SGA was fighting for recognition in MVP debates.

Now, he’s playing for legacy.

If he leads the Thunder to a championship and captures the Finals MVP, Shai will have:

• NBA MVP

• Western Conference Finals MVP

• (Potentially) NBA Champion and Finals MVP

That combination would put him in rare company—even among Hall of Famers. At just 26 years old, SGA would have achieved what many stars spend their entire careers chasing.

Conclusion: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is a Legend in the Making

This has been a storybook season for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. From underdog beginnings to the brink of NBA immortality, the journey has been as thrilling as it has been improbable.

With two MVP awards now in hand, SGA is the undisputed face of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. And if he plays four more games the way he just played five, he’ll soon be an NBA Champion too.