Latest news with #NBAFinalsMVP
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Watch: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues 2025 offseason workouts
A month since he captured an NBA championship, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back in the lab. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season with strong chances to be a rare repeat winner. Gilgeous-Alexander is the biggest reason for that. He's fresh off one of the greatest individual seasons ever. He won about every award imaginable. He was the MVP, Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP winner. The consistent 30-point scorer stepped up in the playoffs to bring home a ring. To do that, Gilgeous-Alexander quietly works in the offseason. The summer is when players completely revamp their skills. The regular season keeps you too busy to do that. Even though the Thunder's offseason is shorter than most because of their playoff run, the 27-year-old has already started to get back into the gym. Gilgeous-Alexander's personal trainer Nem Ilic has regularly posted social media videos of the MVP winner's workout routine. Most have been lower-body workouts, which makes sense considering how drive-heavy of a scorer he is. More of SGA's offseason workouts from his trainer Nem Ilic: Shai using Ares as weight during his warmups 🤣(via unlkdnem/IG) As we saw in the playoffs, the Thunder will only go as far as Gilgeous-Alexander takes them. He's ascended into one of the league's best players. His offseason work routine is the grounds of that. The three-month break allows him to make massive improvements every year.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Isaiah Hartenstein on differences between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, other NBA superstars
Journeying through his basketball career before he finally found his role, Isaiah Hartenstein has played with his share of NBA superstars. The 26-year-old has been around long enough to understand the differences between one franchise player and another. After being mostly a starter, Hartenstein enjoyed his first NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Safe to say it was a successful first year after he left the New York Knicks in the 2024 offseason. The seven-footer was able to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have one of the greatest individual seasons ever highlighted by the MVP, Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP trophies. Playing with other all-time greats like James Harden and Jalen Brunson, Hartenstein detailed the difference on his "Podcast P with Paul George" episode between Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of his past superstar teammates. The former career journeyman had the chance to learn from some of the best before he found his footing in the NBA. "He has no ego. There's no, 'I'm just gonna score and make it about myself.' It's never that," Hartenstein said. "There were even times at the beginning of the season when he threw me a pass when he got trapped. I threw it to the next man to get a shot. I was like, 'Sorry, I'll finish it next time and give you an assist.' He was like, 'I don't care. I just want to win, so do whatever you need.' Even when he's putting up those huge numbers, he's not searching for them. He's in the flow. He's trying to make the team as best as possible." There's always a degree of stat-padding involved with players the caliber of Gilgeous-Alexander, if that's what you want to call it. When you're one of the best, it's easy to pretty up your box score numbers for several reasons. But according to Hartenstein, Gilgeous-Alexander more often plays within rhythm. The receipts back it up, too. Before Gilgeous-Alexander broke it this past season, his previous career-high was just 45 points. Pretty pedestrian for modern times. It became a running gag on social media. The consistent 30-plus point scorer should've had it higher considering his pedigree. Hartenstein also said that Gilgeous-Alexander was a rare two-way superstar player. He might be a decent defender on the Thunder, but his steal numbers back up that he could play on both sides of the floor and doesn't bleed points by being attacked. "Him playing on both sides of the court, I think that's underrated. He plays defense. You can't go pick on him. He tries on defense," Hartenstein said. "It's not like, 'I had this iso for five seconds. I'm tired. I'm just going to chill on defense.' He doesn't do that. When you see that, it gives us the push and confidence he's going to do it both sides of the court." Always interesting to hear from Hartenstein. What he thinks of Gilgeous-Alexander has added weight to it, considering all of his stops before he joined the Thunder. Being arguably the best teammate he's ever had, what he does beyond the monster scoring numbers is the major difference for him.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Is Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum criminally underrated?
It didn't take long for Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum to put together a Hall of Fame resume. The 27-year-old is already a six-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA First Teamer, and an NBA champion. In spite of these impressive accolades, the St. Louis native is constantly underrated. He led the Celtics in playoff points, rebounds, and assists en route to their 2024 title, yet missed out on NBA Finals MVP honors. Later that summer, Tatum was overlooked again at the Olympics, seeing the court for just 11 minutes during Team USA's gold medal game against France. Perhaps Tatum's true value will be on full display next season as he rehabs a ruptured Achilles. The Duke alum could miss the entire 2025-26 campaign, putting the Celtics' championship aspirations in serious jeopardy. But even as he rests, basketball pundits are still trying to rank Tatum. In fact, Bleacher Report just listed him as the 93rd-best player in NBA history, placing him behind arguably less accomplished players like Chris Webber and Jimmy Butler. On a recent episode of NESN's 'Hold My Banner,' hosts Adam Pellerin and Ountae Campbell debated Tatum's standing on the extensive Bleacher Report list, going as far as calling the rankings 'blasphemous.' You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above.
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Hamilton to hold rally for NBA MVP and champion Gilgeous-Alexander
Canada's king of the court has won just about everything possible this year, but is about to receive another honour. Article content Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was born in Toronto but claims Hamilton as his home, will be recognized on Thursday Aug. 7 at 'Shai Rally Day' in Hamilton. Article content Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP after finishing second last season (Steve Nash was the only Canadian to previously win the award), and helped Oklahoma City win its first NBA title last month after a stirring playoff run. He was also named NBA Finals MVP and led the league in scoring in the regular season. Article content Later he'll make an appearance at the Canadian Football League game between the Tiger-Cats and B.C. Lions. Article content 'I'm absolutely thrilled to bring Shai Rally Day to Hamilton,' Horwath said in a release. 'This is our city's official celebration of NBA Champion, NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, NBA Scoring Champion, ESPY Best Athlete — Men's Sports, and proud Hamiltonian, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.' Article content
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
City of Hamilton to hold ‘Shai Rally Day' for NBA's Gilgeous-Alexander on Aug. 7
HAMILTON - The City of Hamilton has big plans to honour hometown NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A celebration of Gilgeous-Alexander will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, and is dubbed as 'Shai Rally Day.' The 26-year-old won the NBA's MVP award, the regular-season scoring title, NBA Finals MVP and his first NBA title with the Oklahoma City Thunder this past season. He's the second Canadian in NBA history to win league MVP, joining Steve Nash. He was also awarded best male athlete at the ESPYs last Wednesday. The celebration will include a free public rally at 3:30 p.m. at Hamilton Stadium, with Mayor Andrea Horwath presenting Gilgeous-Alexander with the key to the city. Later that day, he will be recognized during the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' home game against the B.C. Lions at 7:30 p.m. 'I'm absolutely thrilled to bring Shai Rally Day to Hamilton,' Horwath said in a release. 'This is our city's official celebration of NBA Champion, NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, NBA Scoring Champion, ESPY Best Athlete – Men's Sports, and proud Hamiltonian, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.
