Shai Gilgeous-Alexander thanks wife, OKC teammates in heartfelt MVP speech

If you haven’t seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accept his Most Valuable Player award — the first Kentucky Wildcat to receive the honor — get out the tissues. The Oklahoma City Thunder star won the prestigious award over Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo after leading the NBA in scoring (32.7 PPG) with 72 consecutive games of 20-point performances to go with 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 34.2 minutes per contest.

As the Thunder look to cruise through the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Finals en route to a world championship, Gilgeous-Alexander first thanked those closest to him — everyone who has been a part of his journey from day one to help him get to this point.

It started with the teammates he battles on the court with night in and night out, including fellow Wildcat guard Cason Wallace.

“I would like to start this whole speech with just thanking my teammates,” he said. “I can’t say enough how much you guys mean to me, not only as a basketball player, but as a family. You guys know — like, we do everything together, on and off the court. We go shopping, we eat. You guys are like my brothers, and I really mean that. Without you guys, none of this would be possible. I want you guys to know this award is your award too, so thank you guys so much.”

From there, the rest of the organization, including the decision-makers who first brought him to OKC down to the guys behind the scenes who don’t get enough credit for the work they put in.

“Then I would like to go to the organization, from top to bottom — Clay (Bennett), Sam (Presti), Coach (Mark Daigneault), Donnie (Strack), the equipment guys to the weight room guys,” he continued. “You guys do an amazing job of allowing us as players to just enjoy basketball. That doesn’t get enough credit. We come in here, everything is laid out, all we have to do is play basketball, have fun and be kids. That’s why we’ve been able to grow the way we have. Thank you guys for that.”

Then for his friends and family, including his summer training crew and his mom, dad and brother.

“And my people from back home, I have a crew in the summer. … Guys that I grew up with, they’ve worked tremendous hours with me in the summertime to help me get to this point,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. … Without you guys and the rigorous training schedule, the dedication to my craft that you don’t get to be a part of, I wouldn’t be the player I am today, so thank you for that.

“I also would like to thank my brother — my twin, my best friend since I was two years old, since he came out the womb. Thank you for everything, my partner in crime through it all. My dad for putting the ball in my hands, my mother — if any of you guys know my mother, she’s crazy. I told her the other day that I always thought she was insane, until I had a child. Then I understood exactly what she was saying and exactly what she meant. I love the person that she’s turned me and my brother into and she is a big part of that.”

That was the easy part. When it came time to thank his wife, Hailey Summers, the former Wildcat couldn’t contain his emotions. Meeting her in 2017, they got married in February of 2024 before welcoming their son, Ares, just two months later in April.

Two of the biggest moments of his life came ahead of his MVP campaign during the 2024-25 season. Hearing SGA talk about it all is about as sweet as it gets.

“Then, the one and only Hailey Summers. Thank you so much — I’m so dramatic,” he said, choked up and fighting through tears. “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. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of this journey called life with you. Thank you for everything. 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. Thank you for that.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pays tribute to wife after winning NBA's 2025 MVP award 🏀 pic.twitter.com/gVRplv21c5

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 22, 2025

Well done, Shai. Now it’s time to win a championship.