Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace lead OKC Thunder to NBA title, SGA named Finals MVP

Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has pulled off the NBA’s ultimate trifecta: NBA MVP, world champion and Finals MVP.

In a head-to-head battle between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, it was the former Wildcat leading OKC to the franchise’s first-ever championship with a 103-91 victory on the team’s home floor.

With confetti falling on his head, SGA did his best to put the historic moment into words.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN. “So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief, so many nights of belief. It’s crazy to know we’re all here, but this group worked for it. We put in the hours and we deserve this.”

"So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief, so many nights of belief."

SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, YOU ARE AN NBA CHAMPION. 💯 pic.twitter.com/qvuUcCkUKS
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 29 points on 8-27 shooting and 11-12 from the line while adding 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks and one steal in 40 minutes. He becomes the first NBA player in 25 years to win the regular season MVP, the scoring title, a world championship and Finals MVP.

The others on that prestigious list? Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00), Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71).

"And now he's your Finals MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander." 🙌

Adam Silver makes it official as SGA receives the 2025 Bill Russell #NBAFinals MVP trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/pzF3PAv7Ta
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 23, 2025

Cason Wallace was also a major spark off the bench for the Thunder, going for 10 points on 4-6 shooting and 2-3 from three with three steals and two assists in 26 minutes.

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Elsewhere, Jalen Williams added 20 points in the win, followed by Chet Holmgren with 18, Alex Caruso with 10, Lu Dort with nine and Isaiah Hartenstein with seven. As a team, OKC shot 40.2 percent from the field, 27.5 percent from three and 71.0 percent from the line.

On the losing side, Bennedict Mathurin led the way with 24 points, followed by T.J. McConnell and Pascal Siakam with 16 apiece and Andrew Nembhard with 15. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who entered the matchup limited with a right calf strain, went down with a serious Achilles injury in the first quarter and was forced to miss the remainder of the game.

YOUR 2025 @NBA CHAMPIONS 🏆#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/e1PghAzHG9
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 23, 2025

A heartbreaking finish for Indiana, but a historic one for Oklahoma City and two former Wildcats — especially SGA in the Finals MVP effort.

Gilgeous-Alexander and Wallace become the 17th and 18th Kentucky players to win an NBA title for a combined 26 championship rings. That list includes: