Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

ABOUT SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

Point guard who spent one season at the University of Kentucky before declaring for the NBA. He was selected 11th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets , who then traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers . In 2019, he began playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder .

He spent his early years in Toronto, Canada and played AAU basketball with UPlay Canada. He averaged 18.4 points and 4.8 assists at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

He won a silver medal representing Canada at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. In the 2024-2025 NBA season he won the Most Valuable Player award.  He was named NBA Finals MVP after leading the Thunder over the Pacers in 2025.

He is the son of Olympic sprinter Charmaine Gilgeous. His cousin is basketball player Nickeil Alexander-Walker .

He was coached by John Calipari at the University of Kentucky.