NBA cousins — including MVP SGA — help inspire Calgary Surge's Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow
Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow prepared for the Calgary Surge's home-opener Sunday afternoon in usual fashion …
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But with one important twist.
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The young basketball talent paired his pre-game gym work and stretching with must-see Saturday evening TV — his two cousins battling against each other in Game 3 of the NBA's Western Conference Finals.
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'I just watch them play,' said Gilgeous-Glasgow, of superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and veteran guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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'Can't really cheer for no one,' continued the Surge newcomer. 'But anytime they have the ball or they score or make a good play — get a stop — I'm cheering for them.'
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Gilgeous-Glasgow's not only watched them grow into the NBA stars that they are, he has learned firsthand from playing alongside them what it takes to make it to the big leagues.
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In fact, the 23-year-old credits his first cousins for helping him find his own path to the pros — to the Surge and the Canadian Elite Basketball League after being selected by the Calgary club in the 2025 CEBL Draft.
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Gilgeous-Glasgow and the Surge (2-1) squared off in a Sunday matinee against the Winnipeg Sea Bears (1-1) in the 2025 home debut at WinSport Events Centre. The game was a rematch of Friday's 98-86 victory by the Surge in Winnipeg.
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'It's just an amazing opportunity for the family,' said Gilgeous-Glasgow of the NBA battle at hand — now 2-1 for OKC in the best-of-seven after Saturday's Game 3 143-101 victory by the host T-wolves.
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'It's just an amazing opportunity here in the Western Conference finals. Everything that they've worked for their whole life is coming to fruition, and I love that for them. As a fan, I love what they're doing for Canada basketball. They're both putting Canada basketball on the map.
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'And it's just great for my family knowing that, right now, we could say the best player to come out of Canada is my cousin.'
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