Canadian star’s historic NBA season culminates in emotional ESPY win in Los Angeles
It was a Hollywood ending for a kid from Hamilton.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s quietly dominant point guard and Canada’s basketball pride, stepped onto the stage of the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday night to accept one of the most coveted accolades in American sports culture: Best Athlete – Men’s Sports at the 2025 ESPY Awards.
He smiled, almost sheepishly, as the applause washed over him.
“It’s a dream come true — and for dreams to come true, it takes a village,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, eyes scanning the crowd before giving a nod to his tight-knit circle. “Those names probably don’t mean much to you, but to me they mean everything.”
And just like that, the soft-spoken Canadian added yet another glittering chapter to a season already stamped in NBA lore.
A Career Season That Redefined Dominance
The ESPY was no surprise to those who followed Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2024–25 season. His numbers and narrative were practically engineered for trophy cases.
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NBA Champion – The Thunder clinched their first-ever NBA title.
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Regular Season MVP – Averaged 31.7 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.6 rebounds.
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Finals MVP – Sealed the deal with a 41-point masterclass in Game 6.
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Scoring Title – Became the first Canadian to lead the league in points per game.
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Record Contract – Signed a four-year, $285 million extension — the highest average annual salary in NBA history.
For context, Gilgeous-Alexander’s annual salary now outpaces the GDP of some small island nations.
Let that sink in.
Canadian Cool on Basketball’s Brightest Stage
The ESPY Award marked a cultural moment not just for Gilgeous-Alexander, but for Canadian basketball as a whole.
His meteoric rise has paralleled Canada’s growing presence in the NBA, with fellow stars like Jamal Murray and Andrew Wiggins contributing to the country’s expanding hoops identity. But SGA — as he’s often known — has become the face of the movement.
He’s stylish without trying too hard. Humble, but not shy. A scorer, passer, and lockdown defender all in one. And on a stage known for big personalities and blockbuster endorsements, he still feels like the same kid from Southern Ontario.
“Shai isn’t just the best Canadian player right now,” said Thunder GM Sam Presti earlier this year. “He’s one of the best players on the planet. Period.”
A Night of Stars and Surprises
Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t the only superstar to walk away with hardware on a glittering night in LA.
Simone Biles, the 11-time Olympic medalist, claimed two ESPY trophies, including Best Athlete – Women’s Sports and Best Championship Performance for her dominance at the Paris Olympics.
She shared the moment with her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, blowing him a kiss before taking the mic.
“That was very unexpected,” she said, laughing. “Especially in a category full of men.”
Other notable ESPY winners included:
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Stephen Curry – Best NBA Player
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Caitlin Clark – Breakthrough Athlete
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Kansas City Chiefs – Best Team
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Lionel Messi – Best Soccer Player
But the night’s emotional peak — and perhaps its most symbolic moment — belonged to the 26-year-old Canadian in black Prada.
The Highest-Paid Man in Basketball
Gilgeous-Alexander’s contract extension, announced on Canada Day, wasn’t just a reward — it was a declaration.
At $71.25 million per season, his new deal sets a record for the highest single-season average salary in NBA history. It surpassed the previous high held by two-time MVP Nikola Jokić and reflects the league’s shifting economics and appreciation for multi-dimensional guards.
| Contract | Years | Total Value | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilgeous-Alexander (2025) | 4 | $285 million | $71.25 million |
| Jokić (2023) | 5 | $276 million | $55.2 million |
| Curry (2022) | 4 | $215 million | $53.75 million |
The Thunder didn’t flinch. Why would they?
They’d built their franchise around him — and he’d delivered beyond expectations.
From ESPY to Olympics?
Gilgeous-Alexander’s summer may not slow down anytime soon. He’s expected to suit up for Team Canada at the FIBA Olympic tournament in Paris, where he’ll lead a roster many believe could challenge the U.S. for gold.
It’s the natural next chapter for a man who has, somehow, kept rewriting his own story.
A story that now includes the NBA’s top prize, a generational contract, and the ESPY for Best Male Athlete — all before turning 27.
