Latest news with #MagicJohnsonWesternConferenceFinalsMVP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Trolls His Dad For Trying To Steal His MVP Trophy
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Trolls His Dad For Trying To Steal His MVP Trophy originally appeared on Fadeaway World. After a dominant Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves that sent the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA Finals since 2012, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP trophy, but it was his dad, Vaughn Alexander, who nearly stole the show. Advertisement As the postgame celebrations unfolded, Shai gathered with family to soak in the moment. But as he posed with the hard-earned MVP trophy, he couldn't help but notice something funny: his dad refused to let go of the award. With a sly grin, Shai turned to Vaughn and said, 'You actin' like it's yours.' The moment instantly went viral. Vaughn, fully embracing the playful jab, pretended to stuff the trophy under his sweatshirt and sneak away with it. Shai burst out laughing, capturing a heartwarming exchange between father and son that reminded everyone watching of the importance of family behind basketball's biggest moments. Vaughn's pride was undeniable. After all, his son had just averaged 31.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game in the series, leading the Thunder to a 4–1 win over Minnesota. In the clinching Game 5, SGA posted 34 points on 56 percent shooting along with eight assists and seven rebounds. Advertisement He became the third player in NBA history to record ten 30+ point, 5+ assist games in a single postseason, joining only Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Beyond his Western Conference Finals MVP, Shai is also the 2025 regular-season MVP, an honor earned with averages of 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and five rebounds per game for the 68-win Thunder. He's been the engine behind OKC's remarkable transformation from a 24-win team just three seasons ago to a juggernaut with homecourt advantage in the Finals. The WCF MVP trophy moment was also a full-circle one for the Alexander family. Shai's father played basketball in his youth, and his mother Charmaine, competed in track at the 1992 Olympics. Advertisement The athletic lineage is undeniable and even extended to the opposing team, as SGA's cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker plays for the Timberwolves. While Vaughn may not have actually won the trophy himself, his support and presence throughout Shai's rise to superstardom is symbolic. In that one playful moment, we saw the years of investment, sacrifice, and belief that fueled one of the NBA's best players. With the Finals looming on June 5 against either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are locked in. If OKC goes on to win the championship, Vaughn may once again have trouble keeping his hands off the next piece of hardware, and this time, maybe he'll have earned a tiny piece of it himself. Advertisement Related: "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Saved The NBA" - Former NBA Player Makes Bold Claim About Copycat League This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
After NBA Finals berth, Mark Daigneault reflects on relationship with Sam Presti
After NBA Finals berth, Mark Daigneault reflects on relationship with Sam Presti The Paycom postgame scene was a little different than usual. Instead of fans filing out, they stayed put. The Oklahoma City Thunder let the final seconds tick off to finalize their 124-94 Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to punch their ticket to the 2025 NBA Finals. As ESPN rolled out the red carpet and presented the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP trophy to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the OKC trio of Clay Bennett, Sam Presti and Mark Daigneault grouped together as the team donned out in shirts and hats. The ownership-GM-coach vein might be the most critical part of an NBA franchise. Not being on the same page at any level will eventually create chaos that boils over to the on-court product. That's why the Thunder's synergy has resulted in one of the winningest franchises since they relocated in 2008. Presti beats Daigneault in tenure length with the franchise, but the two have been tied at the hip for years. The latter was handpicked and turned into the OKC GM's personal coaching development project. From the G League's OKC Blue coach to the NBA Finals, safe to say the gamble paid off. After Presti and Daigneault reached the pinnacle of their era, the OKC coach was asked about his long journey with the GM. He kept the self-reflection minimal as the Thunder still have the NBA Finals to play for but praised the front office guru for the culture built. "We're in it every day. There's not a lot of reflection going on in any part. I'm incredibly grateful to him. As we all should be. Every single person that's here. The day before they got here, he made the decision to bring them here. It's unbelievable," Daigneault said about Presti. "We all get to benefit from this environment that allows us to do our best work. He's been the architect of that very quietly over time. Has assembled an unbelievable group of people, starting with our locker room. He prioritizes the type of person we bring in." The Thunder are one of the most successful NBA franchises. Sans two rebuilding years, they've always been in the title picture. The cast of characters might've changed over time, but the Gilgeous-Alexander era has already reached the same heights as the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook era. It's now about climbing that final rung on the NBA ladder with a championship. "He deserves. He works tirelessly. No one is more determined. No one is more relentless in their day-to-day," Daigneault said about Presti. "He'll never make it about him but obviously he's a huge part of this. He and Clay."
