Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Stunning Playoff Surge: How the Thunder Superstar Is Redefining NBA Greatness

Oklahoma City — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is turning a breakout season into an all-time campaign, and the basketball world can’t stop searching his name. Fresh off capturing the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award—becoming the first Thunder player since Kevin Durant to do so—the 26-year-old guard is now authoring signature playoff moments that have Oklahoma City one win away from the NBA Finals. 40-POINT MASTERCLASS PUTS WOLVES ON THE BRINK • In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, edging the Timberwolves 128-126 to give OKC a commanding 3-1 series lead. • The performance marked his 59th 30-plus-point outing this season, tying Michael Jordan for the most by an MVP across the regular season and playoffs since 1991. WHY FANS ARE GOOGLING “SGA CONTRACT” AND “SUPERMAX” Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominance has ignited speculation about a looming super-max extension that could top $350 million. Under the CBA, an MVP who has completed seven seasons may sign for 35 percent of the salary cap with 8-percent annual raises—numbers that would make him one of the league’s highest-paid players and keep him in Oklahoma City through his prime. OKC’S REBUILT ROSTER IS A TITLE CONTENDER NOW General manager Sam Presti’s patient rebuild has paid off: • Chet Holmgren’s rim protection and stretch shooting give Gilgeous-Alexander the pick-and-pop partner he never had. • Jalen Williams has blossomed into a two-way wing, averaging 19.4 points in the postseason. • A war chest of future draft picks positions the Thunder to add another star without gutting the core. MVP NUMBERS THAT MATTER 32.7 PPG — 1st in NBA 6.4 APG — career high 1.7 SPG — top five among guards 63.1 TS% — most efficient 30-plus-point scorer since Stephen Curry’s 2016 unanimous MVP season NEXT UP: CLOSEOUT CHANCE AT PAYCOM CENTER Game 5 shifts back to Oklahoma City, where the Thunder are 7-1 this postseason. A victory would send the franchise to its first Finals appearance since 2012 and give Gilgeous-Alexander a chance to cement an MVP year with championship hardware. SEARCH MOMENTUM With queries for “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlights,” “SGA shoes,” and “Thunder NBA Finals odds” spiking, the Canadian star’s meteoric rise is now a full-blown trend. Expect those numbers to soar if he adds “Western Conference champion” to an already glittering résumé—and keeps writing history that even Michael Jordan has to share. BREAKOUT KEYWORDS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SGA, Oklahoma City Thunder, 2025 NBA Playoffs, Western Conference Finals, NBA MVP, Game 4, 40-point game, super-max extension, NBA Finals hopes.