Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s last name curves around the No. 2 on his OKC Thunder jersey.
It’s already tied for the league’s all-time longest last name, a combination of parents Charmaine Gilgeous and Vaughn Alexander. But if it was up to him, he’d likely want to find room in the limited space for even more letters.
That’s because those are just two of the many people Gilgeous-Alexander represents every time he steps onto the court. From his wife to his son to his friends to his training crew to his teammates to his coaches to his fans, the list of important people in his life is extensive.
They’ve all helped Gilgeous-Alexander become the player he is. A two-time MVP winner, having received the award for a second straight season Sunday after earning 83 first-place votes to top Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama in the voting.
“There are so many people in my life who sacrificed for me to just play this game I love,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I would be doing them a disservice if I didn’t give it my all, and that’s really what it’s about. I’m making sure when I’m done and I hang these shoes up that I gave everything I had to the game. Whatever that looks like for me, I’ll live with. I’ll be more than pleased with what I got out of it.
“But the accolades and points and all of the stuff that’s cool on social media, none of that is what I’m after. I’m just making sure that while I’m doing this thing I’m giving it my all and I’m not wasting anybody’s time.”
If you want it, really go after it.
That’s the message Gilgeous-Alexander received from his parents when he was a kid. He was taught that nothing was out of reach, long before he walked around with a 6-foot-11 wingspan. Back when he couldn’t even snag a spot on the sophomore team at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, as a ninth grader.
That just meant Gilgeous-Alexander had to work harder. It’s how he became a four-star prospect, a one-and-done player at Kentucky and the 11th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
“My parents made sure I was a big dreamer,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Nothing was out of the realm (of possibility). We just had to make sure that if we wanted it, we really went after it. And I think that message being first and foremost for me growing up as a kid allowed me to go after what I want and be here today.”
Nowadays, Gilgeous-Alexander is known for not showing fear. He’s as cold as the theme of his close friend Drake’s latest “Iceman” album.
But back in 2019, he was sweating making his Thunder debut. The then-20-year-old sophomore hadn’t even been driving for long, and yet he was given the keys to a franchise after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Fortunately, he had some patient passengers. He had an ownership group led by chairman Clay Bennett who believed in him. Same for a general manager in Sam Presti and a head coach in Mark Daigneault, who was hired the following season. And he had the support of Thunder fans, who weren’t bothered by bumps in the road.
“As a young player in this NBA — I know I did, personally — you wear this armor that you’re ultra confident and you belong,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But honestly speaking, I’ve never been more nervous than my first basketball game in the NBA. I was scared as heck when I got traded and had to quote-unquote re-prove myself to an organization. Some of that burden being taken off of my shoulders was huge.
“It allowed me to just have fun with the game that I grew up playing with my friends back home. Me being able to take that approach has just allowed me to blossom and turn into the player I am today.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has also had the support of his teammates, who were all in attendance for his MVP press conference inside the Thunder’s practice facility on Sunday.
They all wore matching Burberry trench coats and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver watches. Gifts from Gilgeous-Alexander that totaled about $40,000 per person.
But that’s a small price to pay in his eyes. It’s the least he can do for the guys who’ve been in the trenches with him, back when OKC was at the bottom of the NBA standings. The guys who’ve spent countless hours with him on the road and in the gym.
It was all very fitting, even though the trench coat didn’t literally fit Chet Holmgren. Gilgeous-Alexander joked that he’ll get the 7-foot-1 forward a second one.
“Thank you guys so much,” Gilgeous-Alexander said as he looked around at his teammates. “From setting screens to rebounding when I miss to passing me the ball even though I don’t pass you the ball, everything you guys do to make me a better player out there, I really appreciate you guys. Basketball is obviously a team sport. All of the numbers, all of the accolades and everything I do on the court, if we won 10 games, I wouldn’t be in this conversation. So thank you guys so much. I love you guys.”
All eyes were on Gilgeous-Alexander throughout the press conference, and yet his kept glancing to the front row of the crowd.
He kept making silly faces at his 2-year-old son, Ares, who’s now old enough to walk around. It’s a skill he proudly showed off by waddling over to join his father on stage throughout the evening.
Ares eventually settled down next to his mother and Gilgeous-Alexander’s wife, Hailey Summers. She’s a former athlete herself, having played for the University of Albany’s women’s soccer team. That’s why the Thunder announced Sunday that it’ll be refurbishing a local soccer field at Mary Golda Ross Middle School.
Summers is now a full-time mom and supporter of Gilgeous-Alexander, who continues to live out his sports dreams. And that isn’t lost on the superstar guard.
“The inner circle is something people forget about,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I get all of the praise. But people forget I’m on the court for like 2.5 hours every night, and the rest of my day is (spent) with you guys. The people who make my life seamless and easy. Without the seamless and easy life, I wouldn’t be the basketball player or the man I am today.”
The support from people within Gilgeous-Alexander’s inner circle has helped him now join an exclusive basketball circle.
Prior to Sunday, only four guards in NBA history had won back-to-back MVP awards. And they’re all easily recognizable by one name.
Jordan. Magic. Curry. Nash. That list just got a lot longer with the addition of Gilgeous-Alexander, the only guy in the group who goes by a hyphenated name.
It’ll just have to make room for 2.
“To be in that circle, in that conversation, it’s something I don’t take lightly,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’m super grateful for it, but it’s bigger than just me.”
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still credits supporters after second NBA MVP
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