Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a Canadian professional basketball guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2025, he was named NBA Most Valuable Player and led the team to a championship, earning Finals MVP.

Who is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander, known as SGA, was born in Toronto, Ontario, on July 12, 1998. He played college basketball at Kentucky before being drafted 11th overall in 2018 by the Charlotte Hornets and immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. After one season with the Clippers, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, where he developed into one of the NBA's top scorers.

Why he matters to Canada

Gilgeous-Alexander is one of Canada's most prominent active basketball stars. Winning the NBA MVP and Finals MVP in 2025 as a Toronto-born player makes him a major figure for Canadian sports fans, joining a small group of Canadians to achieve such honours in the NBA.

How he plays

SGA is known for his elite scoring ability, using change of pace, head fakes, and evasive footwork to get to the basket. His style of twisting drives and creative finishes has made him one of the league's most closely watched offensive guards.