Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way ahead of 2025 NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. The Thunder punched their ticket by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 4–1 in the Western Conference Finals, while the Pacers secured their spot with a 4–2 series win over the New York Knicks in the East.

Cameroonian forward Pascal Siakam was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, earning the Larry Bird Trophy after averaging 24.8 points per game on 52.4% shooting from the field, including 50% from three-point range. He edged out teammate Tyrese Haliburton for the honor.

On the Western side, Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander claimed the Magic Johnson Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Western Conference Finals. He put up an impressive stat line, averaging 30.5 points, 8.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals across the four-game series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the cornerstone of the Thunder’s offense, a key reason why he was named the 2024–25 NBA regular season MVP. He led Oklahoma City to a league-best 68 wins—both the top record of the season and a new franchise high.

Gilgeous-Alexander edged out Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the MVP voting, earning 71 of the 100 first-place votes, while Jokić received the remaining 29. Shai led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game on 51.9% shooting, and also averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could cap off the best year of his career by hoisting the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy—and for now, he remains the favorite to win Finals MVP, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, which lists the odds in the following order:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: -550
2. Tyrese Haliburton: +650
3. Jalen Williams: +3000
4. Pascal Siakam: +3000
5. Jalen Brunson: +4000
6. Chet Holgren: +7000
7. Karl-Anthony Towns: +18000
8. Myles Turner: +18000
9. Luguentz Dort: +25000
10. Alex Caruso: +30000

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