Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins NBA Title, Shows Heartfelt Compassion for Tyrese Haliburton
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has reached the pinnacle of basketball success. After leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA championship in over a decade, and earning Finals MVP honors in the process, SGA stood on top of the basketball world. But amid the celebration, his thoughts turned not to himself—but to Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
In his postgame press conference, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on Haliburton’s unfortunate injury during the series, expressing genuine concern and empathy.
“I asked him if he was okay—he seemed like he was in a lot of pain,” SGA told reporters. “You just hate to see it. My heart dropped for him. I couldn’t imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening.”
While Gilgeous-Alexander had just achieved a lifelong dream, he didn’t lose sight of the human side of competition. His compassion was evident as he continued to speak on Haliburton’s injury.
“It’s so unfortunate. It’s not fair. Competition isn’t fair sometimes,” he said. “I just felt so bad for him… Prayers go out to him for sure. Hell of a player. The future’s bright. That team’s going to be good for a very long time.”
It’s rare to see such humility and empathy in the immediate aftermath of victory. In a moment that could have been entirely about himself, Gilgeous-Alexander chose to highlight a fallen rival and show support for a fellow star. It was a reminder that beyond the fierce battles on the court, NBA players share a mutual respect—and a deep understanding of the sacrifices each player makes to get there.
Even in triumph, Shai showed true sportsmanship—a champion in every sense.
