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On Wednesday, May 21, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the NBA's most prestigious individual award and became visibly emotional while expressing gratitude to his wife, Hailey Summers.
"The one and only Hailey Summers," he began with a big smile, before pausing to hold back tears and wipe his eyes. "Sorry I'm so dramatic," he joked, trying to keep his composure.
Hailey, seated in the audience with their 1-year-old son Ares Alexander on her lap, watched as the Oklahoma City Thunder star continued his heartfelt message.
"Thank you for everything you are — for me, for our son Ares," said the 26-year-old guard. "You were the first person who showed me what love and sacrifice truly mean."
He added, "I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I wouldn't be the man, the player, or the father I am today without you — thank you."
The couple tied the knot on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2024.
Before honoring his wife, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on his journey to the top of the NBA.
"I always believed I could be a great player because I knew what hard work and staying focused could do," he shared. "I made big progress, but I never thought I'd actually get here."
"As a kid, I dreamt about this, but it didn't feel real. Then you start getting closer, and it's hard not to feel like that excited little 6-year-old again. That mindset — staying grounded and focusing on the work — is what brought me here."
After finishing his speech, the 6-foot-6 guard rejoined his teammates, who comforted and congratulated him with smiles and laughter.
In a gesture of appreciation, Gilgeous-Alexander gifted Rolex watches to his teammates before the MVP announcement, according to ESPN.
This season, he led the NBA in scoring with an impressive 32.7 points per game, shooting 51.9%, and also averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per game. He was the MVP runner-up last season, finishing behind Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
Now officially the league's MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander shifts his focus to Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, where the Thunder aim to secure a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, May 22.
