Over 100 Kentucky Wildcats have participated in NBA competitions. The only one of them to have won MVP is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

For decades, the Kentucky Wildcats have served as a conveyor belt of basketball talent, churning out future NBA stars at an unparalleled rate. Since the dawn of the NBA’s modern era, more than 100 Kentucky players have taken their talents to the professional stage, making the Wildcats arguably the most prolific pipeline to the league. Despite this, the program has never boasted an NBA MVP—until now.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s meteoric rise to MVP status marks a watershed moment for Kentucky basketball. His crowning as the league’s most valuable player is not just an individual achievement—it is the culmination of decades of Big Blue excellence, a reflection of how a single season can elevate a player from star to superstar, and how the Kentucky brand continues to resonate at the game’s highest level.

To understand the significance of Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP award, it’s important to first appreciate the sheer volume of Kentucky players who have excelled in the NBA. Since the 1940s, the program has consistently produced professional players, but it was the arrival of John Calipari in 2009 that truly supercharged the Wildcats’ NBA pipeline.

Calipari’s “one-and-done” approach, while controversial in some circles, became synonymous with elite talent ready to make an immediate impact at the next level. Under his stewardship, Kentucky produced NBA lottery picks with factory-like efficiency: Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo—the list goes on. These players have gone on to become All-Stars, Olympic medalists, and faces of franchises. However, none of them had cracked the MVP ceiling—until Shai.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took a slightly different path to NBA superstardom compared to many of his Kentucky predecessors. He wasn’t a five-star recruit out of high school. Instead, he was a late-bloomer, earning his stripes through relentless work and unshakable belief in his craft.

When he arrived at Kentucky in 2017, Gilgeous-Alexander was a four-star prospect, overshadowed in a class that included the likes of Kevin Knox and PJ Washington. Few could have predicted that he would become the cornerstone of that freshman class. But by midseason, it was clear that the lanky guard possessed a rare blend of length, poise, and scoring ability. He averaged 14.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting nearly 50% from the field—numbers that hinted at future greatness.

His freshman campaign ended with an SEC Tournament title and a trip to the Sweet 16, where Kentucky ultimately fell short of the Final Four. But for Gilgeous-Alexander, it was enough to vault him into the NBA Draft lottery. The Los Angeles Clippers selected him 11th overall in 2018, setting the stage for what would become one of the league’s most fascinating ascensions.

Shai’s rookie season with the Clippers showcased his immense potential, but it was his trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 that truly opened the floodgates. Paired with veteran Chris Paul, Gilgeous-Alexander thrived in a backcourt that emphasized versatility and basketball IQ. The Thunder’s unexpected playoff berth that year put the league on notice: Shai was no mere complementary piece.

With Paul’s departure the following season, Shai became the focal point of OKC’s rebuild. His scoring numbers exploded, and he emerged as a dynamic three-level scorer who could create his own shot or set up teammates with equal ease. Despite OKC’s losing record in those early years, Shai’s individual brilliance was impossible to ignore.

Everything came together during the 2024-2025 NBA season. Entering his prime at age 26, Gilgeous-Alexander took yet another leap forward, leading the Thunder to a top-three seed in the loaded Western Conference. His stat line was eye-popping: 31.2 points, 6.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting over 50% from the field and nearly 40% from deep.

But numbers alone don’t capture the full story. Gilgeous-Alexander was the heartbeat of an OKC team that far exceeded expectations, turning a promising young core into a legitimate title contender. His clutch performances—game-winners, fourth-quarter heroics, and lockdown defense—embodied everything an MVP should be.

When the dust settled, voters recognized what Thunder fans and Kentucky faithful had known all season: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the league’s most valuable player. His coronation was the culmination of years of hard work, development, and a steadfast belief in his journey.

Shai’s MVP is more than a personal milestone—it’s a moment of validation for Kentucky basketball. For all the program’s success in producing NBA talent, the MVP award had remained elusive. Anthony Davis, who many thought would be the first, finished second in 2020 behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns have had All-NBA seasons, but none had cracked the final tier of individual dominance.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s triumph now places Kentucky in rare air. It confirms that the program doesn’t just produce NBA players—it produces the very best of the best. In doing so, it solidifies John Calipari’s vision of Kentucky as the ultimate launchpad to pro superstardom.

For future recruits, Shai’s MVP serves as a beacon of what’s possible in Lexington. In a landscape where elite prospects weigh the merits of multiple blue-blood programs, Kentucky’s ability to point to an MVP winner is a powerful recruiting tool. It underscores the message that the Wildcats don’t just send players to the NBA—they prepare them to be leaders, superstars, and now, the league’s most valuable players.

This achievement also reaffirms Kentucky’s position as the modern gold standard for NBA development. Programs like Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have storied legacies, but none can match Kentucky’s current NBA footprint. Shai’s MVP is the latest—and perhaps greatest—chapter in that ongoing story.To fully appreciate the magnitude of Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP season, it’s worth stacking it up against other Kentucky legends who have left their mark on the NBA:

• Anthony Davis: Widely regarded as the best two-way player of his era, Davis won an NBA championship with the Lakers and has multiple All-NBA nods. Injuries, however, have limited his consistency in MVP conversations.
• Devin Booker: Booker has become one of the league’s premier scorers and guided the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals. His scoring ability rivals anyone in the league, but he hasn’t yet reached the all-around impact of an MVP.
• Karl-Anthony Towns: Towns is an offensive juggernaut, but his Timberwolves have struggled to reach the upper echelon of the NBA standings.
• Jamal Murray and De’Aaron Fox: Both guards are stars in their own right, but haven’t quite reached the top-tier individual accolades.

Shai’s MVP puts him in a different class altogether—a symbol of sustained excellence, team success, and individual brilliance.

Kentucky has long been known for its depth of NBA talent, but now, with an MVP in the mix, the narrative shifts. It’s no longer just about quantity—it’s about quality at the very highest level. Gilgeous-Alexander’s accomplishment is a testament to the Wildcats’ ability to not just churn out pros, but to nurture transcendent, era-defining stars.

For John Calipari, it’s a moment of vindication. Often criticized for his reliance on one-and-done players, Calipari has always argued that Kentucky is the best training ground for NBA stardom. Shai’s MVP provides the ultimate proof.

As the first Kentucky player to win an MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has set the bar for future Wildcats in the NBA. At just 26 years old, he’s poised to contend for the award for years to come. And with OKC’s roster—featuring the likes of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams—loaded with talent, the Thunder are well-positioned to chase championships.

Meanwhile, Kentucky basketball continues to reload. Five-star recruits keep pouring in, each one dreaming of following in Shai’s footsteps. The MVP hardware now sitting in Oklahoma City serves as a constant reminder: this is what the Kentucky experience can produce.

Shai’s MVP also signals a shift in the NBA’s international landscape. As a Canadian, he joins Steve Nash as the only MVP winners from the country. His victory is a source of national pride for Canada, and a reminder of basketball’s global reach.

For the NBA itself, Shai represents the evolution of the modern lead guard: long, versatile, and capable of taking over games in myriad ways. His unique blend of scoring and playmaking is emblematic of the direction in which the league is headed—a positionless, flowing game dominated by players who can do it all.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP season will forever be etched in the annals of Kentucky basketball history. It’s a story of unlikely beginnings, unwavering belief, and ultimately, of fulfilling the highest potential. For Kentucky fans, it’s a moment to celebrate—a testament to the program’s past, present, and future.

For the NBA, it’s a reminder that greatness can come from anywhere, and that the next MVP might be waiting in the shadows, ready to seize their moment. In Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky basketball has finally produced its first NBA MVP. And in doing so, it has solidified its legacy as the ultimate proving ground for basketball greatness.