Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on achieving rare NBA trifecta: "It's hard to even fathom"

We could write a million posts about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s incredible season, and it wouldn’t do it justice. Last night, the former Cat joined the rarest of airs when he won NBA Finals MVP following Oklahoma City’s title-clinching win over the Indiana Pacers, the latest award in what is becoming a very crowded trophy case.

Shai is just the fourth NBA player to sweep regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and the scoring title in the same year, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal. He and Abdul-Jabbar are the only players to accomplish that by age 26. If you expand that list to players who have won all three honors over their careers, it’s still small: Abdul-Jabbar (age 23), Gilgeous-Alexander (26), LeBron James (27), Michael Jordan (27), Shaquille O’Neal (27), Kevin Durant (28), Kobe Bryant (30), Steph Curry (33), and Wilt Chamberlain (35). If you add in Shai’s 2017 Kentucky Derby Festival MVP honors, he’s in a class of his own.

“It’s hard to believe that I’m part of that group,” Shai said of joining Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan, and O’Neal as the only players to win all three in the same season. “It’s hard to even fathom that I’m that type of basketball player sometimes.”

It’s even more incredible when you factor in that Shai was the lowest-ranked recruit in his freshman class at Kentucky (excluding Jemarl Baker, who redshirted that season). Originally committed to Florida, Shai was a four-star, top 50 prospect when he reopened his recruitment in October 2016. John Calipari watched him play at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga later that month and offered him a scholarship on an official visit shortly thereafter. Ten days later, Shai committed to Kentucky, picking the Cats over Syracuse, Texas, and UNLV. At the time, he was considered a depth piece, projected to back up Quade Green, which he did for half a season before taking over at point guard. Less than a decade later, Shai has accomplished one of the most impressive feats in NBA history and is Kentucky’s most successful pro.

“As a kid, you dream,” Shai said. “Every kid dreams. But you don’t ever really know if it’s going to come true. I’m just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true. That’s a ‘thank you’ to everyone who’s been in my corner and helped me get there. Wouldn’t have been able to get here without them. They know who they are. It’s a win for the family.”

Speaking of family, Shai wasn’t the only former Cat who won a ring. He and Cason Wallace (2022-23) became the 17th and 18th players in Kentucky Basketball history to win NBA Championships. In total, former Cats have won a combined 26 NBA Championship rings. If you count DeMarcus Cousins, who was waived before the Lakers’ 2020 title run due to injury and COVID restrictions but still received a ring, that number is even higher. Even on a night he achieved a very rare trifecta, Shai made a point to credit Wallace and his other teammates.

“I think the most impressive part is, like, the group that did it, our togetherness on and off the court, like how much fun we have, it made it so much easier,” Shai said. “It made it feel like we were just kids playing basketball. It was so fun.

“All the achievements and accolades and things, like, they don’t even come close to the satisfaction of winning with your brothers and people that you are so close to and want to succeed just as much as you want yourself to succeed. That’s been the most impressive and fun part of it, just to know that I have 15 brothers that I just experienced a once-in-a-lifetime experience with. I’ll never forget them, they’ll never forget me.”

Congrats again to Shai. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

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Kentucky Basketball players to win NBA Titles

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder (2025)
Cason Wallace – Oklahoma City Thunder (2025)
Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets (2023)
Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Jodie Meeks – Toronto Raptors (2019)
Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics (2008), Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Derek Anderson – Miami Heat (2006)
Antoine Walker – Miami Heat (2006)
Nazr Mohammed – San Antonio Spurs (2005)
Tayshaun Prince – Detroit Pistons (2004)
Rick Robey – Boston Celtics (1981)
Kevin Grevey – Washington Bullets (1978)
Larry Steele – Portland Trail Blazers (1977)
Pat Riley – Los Angeles Lakers (1972)
Cliff Hagan – St. Louis Hawks (1958)
Frank Ramsey – Boston Celtics (1957, 1959-64)
Lou Tsioropoulos – Boston Celtics (1957, 1959)
Paul Noel – Rochester Royals (1951)

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