And finally, we have a winner. After weeks of building impatience, the NBA has officially named its 2024–25 MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The announcement finally cut through the radio silence that had fans, media, and even ESPN’s Harrison Sanford scratching their heads over what the holdup was. But Mom called it first. While Shai might’ve just claimed the league’s top honor, his biggest believer already saw it coming. Now, with Shai taking the crown, everything shifts.
In a moment that stole hearts online, Shai’s mom dropped the most MVP-worthy speech of the night: “Finally, you got it. You deserve it. Like I said, be you, stay focused, and everything else will work out. You’re definitely on your way to being one of the best to ever play the game. And now, another thing checked off your list,” she said.
His mom then continued saying, “This is why your whole life has been consistent. Be careful and continue to dominate and be the best leader on and off the court. The world finally gets to see you the way I’ve always seen you. You know how much I love you. I’m so, so, so proud of you. Well deserved. Love you.”
.@shaiglalex earned it, but mom called it pic.twitter.com/9CLuRpaNuR
— AT&T (@ATT) May 21, 2025
Yes. We’re all going teary-eyed right now. Because sometimes, the real MVP speech doesn’t come from a podium. And here’s the cherry on top: If you’re wondering what this means for his future, get this. With the MVP secured, Shai becomes eligible to sign the largest contract extension in NBA history in the summer of 2026: a projected five-year, $379.8 million deal. That’s $65.5M in 2027–28, climbing all the way to $86.5M by the 2031–32 season. A max bag for a max-caliber star.
Shai’s been that guy all season long. And in the playoffs? Even better—29.2 points, 6.6 assists, 5.8 boards across 12 games. He’s led OKC right into the heart of the West, and he’s done it with ice in his veins. But let’s be fair, this wasn’t an easy call. Nikola Jokić made sure of that. With monstrous numbers of his own and a playoff presence that’s impossible to ignore, it sometimes felt like the gap between them was paper-thin. Like, even the league couldn’t tell them apart.
But now that Shai’s already sent Jokic home with a 125–93 Game 7 beat-down, the MVP feels less like a win, and more like… a formality. The league made it official today, but if you watched that series? You knew. The race was close on paper, sure, but Shai settled it on the court first. And with OKC still standing strong with now 3 MVPs to their legacy, it’s obvious that more than just leading the Thunder, Shai’s wiping out the competition, one round at a time. Stick around, folks. We’ll be covering every twist of this chaos!
(This is a developing story…)
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