Latest news with #ShaiGilgeous-AlexanderDay
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Oklahoma City Thunder make history with first NBA championship as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is honored with his own day
Image via Getty Images Downtown Oklahoma City turned into a sea of blue and orange on Tuesday as thousands of fans poured into the streets to celebrate a moment more than a decade in the making — the Thunder's first-ever NBA championship. With the Larry O'Brien Trophy finally in hand, players and coaches paraded through a roaring crowd, cheered on by a city beaming with pride. At the center of the celebration was none other than Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose incredible postseason performance not only etched his name in franchise history but also earned him a citywide tribute that stunned the crowd. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cements his legacy as Oklahoma City declares a day in his name Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stood at the heart of it all — shirtless, wrapped in a Canadian flag, and holding the NBA 's ultimate prize high above his head. The 26-year-old guard had been electric throughout the playoffs, and the fans returned that energy tenfold as they celebrated with him during the Thunder's championship parade. Across a grueling 23-game postseason run, he was nothing short of spectacular. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 29.9 points, 6.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and shot nearly 88% from the free-throw line. His defining moment came in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers , where he delivered 29 points, 12 assists, and played 40 critical minutes to lead Oklahoma City to a 104–97 win and its first-ever NBA title. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Are you 18-79 with no funeral insurance? Talk to NZ Seniors today NZ Seniors Get Quote Undo But the most unforgettable moment of the parade didn't come from the court — it came from the stage at Scissortail Park. Amid the confetti and deafening cheers, Oklahoma City mayor David Holt took the microphone and made an announcement that instantly became part of franchise lore: July 30, 2025, will officially be recognized as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Day. The honor was meant to celebrate not just his clutch playoff run, but also his 2024–25 regular season MVP campaign — a rare double achievement for any NBA star, especially one still rising. Gilgeous-Alexander's journey to this moment has been anything but linear. Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on draft night and spent just one season there before being dealt to Oklahoma City in the 2019 blockbuster Paul George trade. Since then, he has grown into more than just a franchise player — he's become the face of the Thunder's rebuild and now, its championship breakthrough. Under contract through the 2026–27 season, Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible for a four-year, $293 million supermax extension. Given his production, leadership, and deep connection with the city, it's hard to imagine Oklahoma City letting their superstar go anywhere else. Also Read: 'Hopefully I'm somewhere close' — MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander channels Kobe Bryant's legacy in his defining 2025 NBA Finals moment The parade may have lasted only one afternoon, but the impact of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's historic postseason will echo across Oklahoma City for years to come. With a championship ring, a Finals MVP, a regular season MVP, and now an official day named in his honor, his legacy is firmly rooted in Thunder history — and this chapter is only just beginning. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Internet divided over Jalen Williams' remark as Oklahoma City Thunder loses to Minnesota Timberwolves shortly after celebrating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win
Image credit: Getty Images Soon after the Oklahoma City Thunder boys celebrated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win with gifts and treats, the team lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves by a massive 42 points in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder had defeated them in the first two games, but the way Thunder forward Jalen Williams brushed off his team's loss in the third game did not seem to go down well with everyone. Jalen Williams comment divides internet Reacting to his team's loss, Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Jalen Williams said, "In college, I've lost by 60. It could always be worse." Amid all this, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear, "We don't try to go out like that, I promise.' As if agreeing with Williams, a Reddit user wrote, 'Man, even in the KD years we would get blown out, and then come out the next game like it never happened. Sometimes it just doesn't mean anything after the buzzer goes.' Another said, 'Literally this game doesn't matter even though I think ok wins.' But a fan objected to Williams' mindset, writing, 'I hate that he has this mentality. I was hoping in the most naive way possible that they'd just get discouraged over 1 game and let us coast our way to the finals.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [부산 한정] 빠진 치아 1개도 10개도 33만원에 임플란트 해드려요! 플란치과 더 알아보기 Undo But sharing a reminder, a Reddit user wrote, 'No team has ever lost by 40* and won the championship that same year. in the playoffs' One also said, 'Rather lose by 40 than a close game. Especially when you're already up 2-0.' One more comment read: 'I think getting blown out like this is actually way less demoralizing than losing a close game you should have won. Sometimes it's just not your game.' Jalen Williams got 13 points while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got just 14 points in Game 3. This is one of Thunder's worst losses. The team had been busy celebrating Alexander's MVP win as he splurged them with expensive gifts like Rolex watches and iPhones while Oklahoma City mayor named a day to honour him. Also Read: Internet reacts as Oklahoma City mayor declares Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Day to celebrate his MVP Win: 'That's a bit early' The Minnesota Timberwolves still trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, and this seems to have made Thunder take it easy. The two teams will now face once again in Game 4 on May 26 on Timberwolves' home ground. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Internet reacts as Oklahoma City mayor declares Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Day to celebrate his MVP Win: 'That's a bit early'
Image credit: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/Instagram Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win continues to be a time of celebration for the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the shooting guard treated his teammates with expensive gifts, the Oklahoma City mayor has now made a major announcement to honor him on his MVP win. He has declared May 21 as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Day. Oklahoma City mayor makes an announcement A picture of the mayor's written proclamation about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was shared on the internet. It had the seal of the mayor and read: "Now, therefore, I, David Holt, mayor of the city of Oklahoma City, do hereby proclaim May 21, 2025, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Day in Oklahoma City." Internet reacts to mayor's announcement The announcement got some interesting reactions from Oklahoma fans. While some started a meme parade, many objected to it, comparing it to how earlier MVPs never got such star treatment. A meme of a man jumping into the pool read: 'They should designate a specific time for the residents to do an honorary flop!' Another showed a WWE player falling out of the ring and went with the caption: 'Does everyone have to fall on the ground while walking every 5 minutes?' Reacting to the mayor's announcement, an NBA fan wrote, 'KD never got this.' Another said, 'This is garbage cause KD and Russ are far more iconic than SGA and never got this level of treatment?' Hyping him even more, a fan wrote, 'SGA for president!' Another tweeted, 'How cool is that! What an amazing way to honor an MVP!' One more said, 'Oklahoma City is celebrating its MVP in style.' A fan also hinted at the upcoming games, writing, 'Alright that's a bit early.' A comment also read: 'SGA is the new Kobe Bryant.' Also Read: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes all out, treats teammates to over $10K in gifts including iPhones, custom jackets and Rolexes On winning the Most Valuable Player title, Alexander said as per USA Today, 'I dreamt about it as a kid, but you know as a kid it's a fake dream. But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it's hard to not freak out. It's hard to not be a six-year-old kid again, and I think that's what's allowed me to achieve it. I try to not focus on it and just worry about what's got me to this place, which is just working hard. ' He added that he takes it day by day and trusts the people around him and trusts the things that he's done to get him to where he is now. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
