Gilgeous-Alexander nears a milestone as NBA Finals tip off

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander watches during practice, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma City.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a chance to make a whole slew of history in these NBA Finals.

The Oklahoma City star is the first reigning MVP who’ll play in the finals — they start Thursday night when the Thunder play host to the Indiana Pacers — since Golden State’s Stephen Curry in 2016. He could become the first player to win a scoring title and an NBA title in the same season since Shaquille O’Neal did it for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999-2000.

And sometime in Game 1 or Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander will likely hit another milestone.

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