Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has added another prestigious award to his growing collection!
Fresh off his NBA Championship victory and NBA Finals MVP honor, the 27-year-old star of the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed the 2025 ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete on Wednesday, July 16.
Known simply as “SGA” in the basketball world, the Toronto native took to the stage at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles to accept the award, where he thanked his teammates, family, and loved ones.
“It’s a dream come true,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, after a momentary mishap at the start of his speech — which was bleeped out for viewers at home. With a smile, he laughed and restarted his speech.
“To achieve your dreams, it takes a village, and my village has been nothing short of special since the start of this journey,” the NBA star continued.
He went on to thank his wife, Hailey Summers, as well as his family, friends, and his Thunder teammates, many of whom were present at the event to support him.
Gilgeous-Alexander won the award after an incredible season, where he narrowly beat out notable athletes such as Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers), and Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles).
The Thunder point guard had a standout year, not only winning the NBA Finals MVP but also being named the NBA regular season MVP in May. His consistent performance earned him an All-Star selection for the third consecutive season. Averaging a career-high 32.7 points per game, Gilgeous-Alexander finished as the league’s highest scorer during the 2024-25 season.
In the playoffs, he led the Thunder to their first-ever finals victory since the team relocated to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008. Gilgeous-Alexander’s playoff performance was equally impressive, averaging 29.9 points per game and guiding the Thunder to a seven-game victory over the Indiana Pacers in the finals. The Pacers were dealt a blow in Game 7 after the injury of their star player, Tyrese Haliburton.
This 2025 ESPY Award marks Gilgeous-Alexander’s first career win at the prestigious sports awards ceremony.
Other notable winners from the evening included Simone Biles, who took home two awards — Best Championship Performance and Best Female Athlete. WNBA legend Diana Taurasi and retired soccer star Alex Morgan were both honored with “icon” awards recognizing their career achievements.
Cooper Flagg, former Duke basketball star, won Best College Athlete, while Ilona Maher, rugby’s rising star, claimed the Best Breakthrough Athlete award.
The 2025 ESPY Awards were broadcast live on ABC on Wednesday night, celebrating the best and brightest in sports.
