In a momentous achievement, Oklahoma City Thunder’s standout, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was awarded the prestigious Northern Star Award in 2023, securing the title of Canadian Athlete of the Year.
Gilgeous-Alexander, only the second basketball player to receive this honor after Steve Nash in 2005, expressed his pride in representing Canada on the global stage.
Acknowledging the role Canada played in his formative years, he stated, via Doug Smith, “My childhood was everything I could ask for, and a part of that is because Canada is the country that it is. I’m super proud to be part of it and … try to make the country proud.”
The 25-year-old point guard’s stellar contributions extended beyond the NBA courts. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Canada national team to a historic bronze at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, securing a coveted spot for his country in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In the 2022-2023 NBA season, he showcased his scoring prowess, ranking fourth with an impressive 31.4 points per game.
Continuing his outstanding performance, this season sees him maintaining an impressive stat line, averaging 30.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 34.7 minutes per game.
