It’s a night Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will forever cherish.
Moments after the Thunder won their second NBA title in franchise history — the first since they relocated from Seattle — with a 103-91 victory over the Pacers in Game 7 on Sunday night, the newly minted Finals MVP embraced wife Hailey Summers on the court at Paycom Center in a jubilant scene.
“The moment was amazing,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the celebrations in front of the home Oklahoma City crowd. “The fans were amazing, it was so much fun, exactly what I expected.”
In footage of the emotional moment, Summers can be seen jumping into the reigning league MVP‘s arms after he put up 29 points, five rebounds and 12 assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 32.7 points in the regular season when the Thunder finished at 68-14 and earned the No. 1 seed in the West, averaged 29.9 points this postseason.
The three-time All-Star guard was still in “disbelief” even after the postgame celebrations began.
“It doesn’t feel real,” the 26-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander said. “So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It’s crazy to know that we’re all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours and we deserve this.”
The Thunder trailed the Pacers at halftime, 48-47, as Indiana looked to push forward without star Tyrese Haliburton, who sustained a devastating Achilles injury in the first quarter.
OKC put up 56 points in the second half.
Gilgeous-Alexander has commemorated much of this milestone season with Summers and their 1-year-old son Ares.
The Toronto native gushed over his family in May when he was awarded NBA MVP for the 2024-25 season.
“Hailey Summers, thank you for everything,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Thank you for everything you are — for me, for our son, Ares. You were the first person to show me what love really meant … what sacrifice really meant.”
The couple reportedly wed in February 2024.
