Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sealed a season for the ages, powering the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA title with a commanding 103-91 win over the Indiana Pacers in a dramatic Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The 26-year-old Canadian superstar poured in 29 points and dished out 12 assists to complete the Thunder’s 4-3 series victory on home court, earning NBA Finals MVP honors.
He now joins a legendary club as only the fourth player in NBA history — and the first since Shaquille O’Neal — to win the regular season MVP, the scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same campaign.
“It doesn’t feel real,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, moments after lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. “So many hours, so many emotions. This group worked for it — we earned this.”
The Pacers, chasing their first-ever championship, suffered a crushing blow early when All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton went down just seven minutes into the game with a leg injury. Despite his absence, Indiana led 48-47 at the half. But the Thunder exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers 34-20 and cruising to a 22-point lead in the fourth.
The win caps a remarkable turnaround for OKC, who managed just 22 wins in the 2020-21 season. Under head coach Mark Daigneault, they’ve become the youngest team to win an NBA Finals since 1977, boasting an average age of just 25.6.
“They behave like champions, they compete like champions,” said Daigneault. “They’re an uncommon team — and now they’re champions.”
The title marks the Thunder’s first since relocating from Seattle in 2008. Their last championship came as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979.
As for Gilgeous-Alexander and his youthful squad, the message is clear: the future in Oklahoma City is bright — and just getting started.
