Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Emotional Tribute to His Wife During MVP Speech

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was overcome with emotion during his MVP speech, after taking out the 2024-25 award.

It was a tight race between the Thunder star and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, but SGA won out.

Gilgeous-Alexander ended up with 71 first placed votes and 29 second placed votes, whilst Jokic had the exact opposite – 71 second placed votes and 29 first placed votes.

Shai led the Thunder to a league-high 68 wins this NBA season, led the league with 32.7 points per game on 51.9 percent shooting from the floor and also averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks.

During his speech in front of his teammates, he began to cry when thanking his wife, Hailey Summers.

“Thank you,”Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Sorry I’m so dramatic … 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 love really meant, what sacrifice really meant. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of this journey called life with you. So thank you for everything.”

“I wouldn’t be the man I am,” he continued. “I wouldn’t be the player I am, I wouldn’t be the father, I am without you.”

Shai added, “I always thought that I could be a really good player because I had seen what putting your head down and working and controlling what you control can do for you. I made tremendous strides, but I never thought this was going to happen.

“I dreamt about it as a kid, but as a kid, it’s a fake dream. But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it’s hard to not freak out. It’s hard to not be a 6-year-old kid again. And I think that’s what’s allowed me to achieve it. I tried to just not focus on it and just worry about what’s gotten to this place.”