Steve Nash has officially passed the torch. Eleven years after retiring from the NBA, the two-time MVP told GQ he is ready to anoint Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the best Canadian basketball player of all time.
“I have no problem anointing him the greatest Canadian player ever,” Nash said. “He’s going to be an inspiring figure for many generations of Canadians to come.”
Nash’s praise comes after a historic 2024–25 campaign in which Gilgeous-Alexander captured the NBA MVP award, led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the best record in franchise history at 68–14, and delivered the franchise’s first championship since 1979.
The 27-year-old guard became the first Canadian in league history to win both MVP and Finals MVP honors. He also joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players ever to win the MVP, Finals MVP, and a scoring title in the same season.
Throughout the year, Gilgeous-Alexander established himself as one of the NBA’s most dominant offensive forces. He led the league in scoring at 32.7 points per game while shooting 51.9% from the field and 89.8% from the free-throw line. His season included four 50-point games, 13 games with at least 40 points, and 72 consecutive outings with 20 or more points — the longest streak since the 1960s.
Oklahoma City’s deep postseason run solidified his legacy. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 29.9 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in the playoffs, guiding the Thunder past the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves before defeating the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the NBA Finals.
He scored 38 points in his Finals debut, the third-most ever for a player’s first appearance on the league’s biggest stage. By Game 7, he had accumulated a record 12 playoff performances with at least 30 points and five assists — surpassing both Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s achievements mark a new era for Canadian basketball. His MVP season followed the path carved by Nash two decades earlier, but his blend of scoring efficiency, defensive activity, and clutch performances pushed him into uncharted territory for players from Canada.
The Thunder rewarded his historic season with a four-year, $285 million contract extension on July 1, ensuring his long-term future in Oklahoma City.
