Another foreign superstar dominated the NBA.
On the 23rd, the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the 2024-25 NBA Finals held at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma, clinching their first championship in franchise history with a 4-3 record.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), who had a remarkable performance in Game 7 with 29 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, was named Finals MVP.
Alexander became the fourth player in history to sweep the season MVP, scoring champion, Finals MVP, and championship, following Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971), Michael Jordan (4 times), and Shaquille O'Neal (2000). He averaged 32.7 points during the regular season and showcased incredible explosiveness with 30.3 points in the Finals.
OKC, which inherited the franchise of the Seattle SuperSonics, was established in 2008 after relocating and topped the regular season with a record of 68 wins and 14 losses, finally clinching their first championship by conquering the Finals. Alexander and his teammates achieved a title that stars like Kevin Durant, James Harden, and RUSSELL Westbrook could not.
Alexander, who received the Finals MVP, noted, “It feels unreal. I spent a lot of time working hard, and I have so many emotions. Considering the time we put in, we deserve to be champions.”
In the first quarter, Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury impacted the opposing team, OKC. Haliburton played only 7 minutes, scoring 3 three-pointers before ultimately not returning to the court. An Achilles tear typically requires about a year of rehabilitation. T.J. McConnell was urgently called in, scoring 16 points and making 3 assists, but he was unable to fill the gap left by Haliburton with 7 turnovers.
Alexander expressed, “We were behind at halftime, but there were 24 minutes left, and I thought we could definitely win. This victory is not just mine; it was for my family, friends, and everyone. Our fans are the best in the world. I want to enjoy the moment of victory.”
Superstar Alexander from Canada dominated the NBA. Following Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Nikola Jokic (Serbia), another foreign superstar has conquered the league. The NBA has truly entered an era of globalization.
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