“Through Tears and Triumph: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Delivers Emotional MVP Speech Honoring Family, Thunder Teammates, and Newfound Fatherhood”
It was a moment years in the makingyet still one that took everyone’s breath away.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s dazzling superstar and the NBA’s 2024–25 Most Valuable Player, delivered a heartfelt, emotional speech that reminded the basketball world of what makes him so much more than a scorer. Yes, the stats are undeniable league-best 32.7 points per game, 72 straight games with 20+ points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals but this MVP win was just as much about the man behind the numbers.
And when it came time to speak on it, the former Kentucky Wildcat and now league MVP didn’t talk about the spotlight. He talked about love, loyalty, and the people who carried him to this pinnacle.
Starting With Brotherhood: “You guys are like my brothers”
With his OKC Thunder brothers flanking him, Gilgeous-Alexander began by pouring out gratitude for the teammates who’ve been on the grind with him day in and day out including fellow Wildcat Cason Wallace.
“I can’t say enough how much you guys mean to me, not only as a basketball player, but as a family… We do everything together, on and off the court… Without you guys, none of this would be possible. I want you guys to know this award is your award too.”
It was a powerful tribute to the chemistry and connection fueling one of the NBA’s most promising young teams one that’s storming through the Western Conference playoffs and now eyeing a world championship.
From Locker Room to Front Office: The Thunder Organization Gets Its Flowers
Next, SGA turned his thanks to the people who keep the Thunder machine running from GM Sam Presti to head coach Mark Daigneault, to trainers, staff, and equipment crews. Often overlooked, these are the people who help create a winning culture. And Shai didn’t forget them.
“You guys do an amazing job of allowing us as players to just enjoy basketball. That doesn’t get enough credit… That’s why we’ve been able to grow the way we have.”
In an age where stars often talk about their brand and legacy, Gilgeous-Alexander chose to celebrate the unsung heroes behind the scenes.
Honoring His Roots: Friends, Family, and the Village That Raised Him
Gilgeous-Alexander then reached back into his journey to the summer training partners, the lifelong friends, and especially his family, who were with him before the bright lights and roaring crowds.
He gave a special shoutout to his twin brother, calling him his “partner in crime,” and to his parents, especially his mother, whose fierce love shaped him:
“If any of you guys know my mother, she’s crazy… I always thought she was insane, until I had a child. Then I understood exactly what she meant… She is a big part of the person I’ve become.”
It was raw. It was real. It was Shai.
The Most Emotional Moment: A Tribute to His Wife, Hailey
And then came the tears.
Fighting through emotion, Gilgeous-Alexander thanked the woman who changed his life in every way his wife, Hailey Summers. The two were married in February 2024 and welcomed their son Ares just two months later, right as Shai’s MVP campaign was taking off.
“Hailey Summers, thank you for everything you are for me, for our son, Ares. You were the first person to show me what love really meant, what sacrifice really meant… I wouldn’t be the man I am, I wouldn’t be the player I am, I wouldn’t be the father I am, without you.”
As his voice cracked and tears welled, the moment transcended basketball. It became a window into a soul that has balanced fatherhood, marriage, and superstardom, all in the same historic year.
More Than Just an MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP season will go down in the record books. But what will live on even longer is the way he embraced the spotlight with humility, grace, and a deep reverence for those who made it possible.
It wasn’t about accolades. It was about people.
As the Thunder push toward an NBA title, one thing is clear: this team has a leader whose greatness stretches far beyond the hardwood. And that makes the future both for OKC and the Gilgeous-Alexander family brighter than ever.
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