section_path: Abstract
section_name: Abstract
paragraph_text: Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander (/ ˈ ʃ eɪ ˈ ɡ ɪ l dʒ ə s / SHAY GHIL -jəs; born July 12, 1998), also known by his initials SGA, is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
  
  Gilgeous-Alexander played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that same night.He is a three-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team member. In the 2024–25 NBA season, Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA Most Valuable Player and led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game, also making his first NBA Finals appearance in the postseason.
  
  In his rookie year, Gilgeous-Alexander was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team before being traded to the Thunder in July 2019. In his first year with Oklahoma City, he was their leading scorer and helped them make the playoffs as a fifth seed. After dealing with injuries the next two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander was named to his first NBA All-Star Game and was voted to the All-NBA First Team in 2023, when he finished fourth in the league in scoring with 31.4 points per game.
  
  With the Canadian national team, Gilgeous-Alexander won the bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and was named to the World Cup All-Tournament Team. He was given the Northern Star Award in 2023 as Canadian athlete of the year, only the second basketball player so honoured.
  
  Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander (/ ˈ ʃ eɪ ˈ ɡ ɪ l dʒ ə s / SHAY GHIL -jəs; born July 12, 1998), also known by his initials SGA, is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
  
  Gilgeous-Alexander played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that same night.He is a three-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team member. In the 2024–25 NBA season, Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA Most Valuable Player and led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game, also making his first NBA Finals appearance in the postseason.
  
  In his rookie year, Gilgeous-Alexander was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team before being traded to the Thunder in July 2019. In his first year with Oklahoma City, he was their leading scorer and helped them make the playoffs as a fifth seed. After dealing with injuries the next two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander was named to his first NBA All-Star Game and was voted to the All-NBA First Team in 2023, when he finished fourth in the league in scoring with 31.4 points per game.
  
  With the Canadian national team, Gilgeous-Alexander won the bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and was named to the World Cup All-Tournament Team. He was given the Northern Star Award in 2023 as Canadian athlete of the year, only the second basketball player so honoured.