Hamilton communities celebrate local basketball star’s NBA MVP award

Hamilton’s own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the second Canadian to be awarded the National Basketball Association’s ‘Most Valuable Player’.

Not since Steve Nash won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 has a Canadian basketball player reached such heights, until the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard won the award Wednesday.

A special ceremony was held Thursday at Gilgeous-Alexander’s old stomping grounds at Sir Allan Macnab Secondary School to celebrate his hard work.

The case for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was simple: he’s the best player on an Oklahoma City Thunder team that had the best record this season, and set a league mark for margin-of-victory.

If that wasn’t enough, he also won the NBA scoring title – a title given annually to the player who leads the league in points per game during the regular season.

READ MORE: Hamilton’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA’s MVP

But the star from Hamilton, Ont. is humble, despite the awards.

“As a kid dreaming about the game, it’s in the back of my mind, but none of it is possible without the guys behind me,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander was a Sir Allan Macnab Lion before roaring onto the NBA stage, and he’s turned heads along the way.

Not just with his skill – which is off the charts – but with his work ethic.

“Shai was always a gym rat,” said Tom Fisher, who used to teach at the high school as a coach, “he had a skill set but it wasn’t leading anyone to believe he was the MVP, right, he’s a relentless gym rat, so it’s no coincidence that everything is panning out in his favour right now.”

“[It’s] really due to Canadian values: hard work, determination, humility, he’s a tremendous example,” said Rowan Barrett, the General Manager of the Canadian Men’s Basketball Team. “I’m equally proud of the man who he is.”

Gilgeous-Alexander winning the NBA MVP tells young Hamilton and Canadian basketball players that they too can achieve great things in life if they put in the work.

“It’s surreal,” said Noah Smart, a student at Sir Allan Macnab Highschool and a Lion on the basketball team. “Knowing we can go to the same school, you can go to this school, come out, and do big things in the NBA.”

“It was a great moment, knowing that he came from the same school as me to become the best player in the world,” said Carter Brown, another student at the high school and one of Smart’s teammates. “An amazing accomplishment.”

Outside the gymnasium where a young Gilgeous-Alexander honed his skills is a giant mural honouring the MVP.

Inside the gym, Canada Basketball held an event to recognize the accomplishment of a player who is only 26-years-old.

“I think the scary thing, is that he’s not done,” said Barrett. “At 26, he’s not in his prime – he’s got another four years. As he continues to grow his skill, that Canadians get to watch him grow is great for our game.”

Anyone familiar with the story of Michael Jordan being cut from his high school basketball team, would be surprised to learn that the same thing happened to Gilgeous-Alexander.

10 years ago he was also cut as a sophomore from the St. Thomas More basketball team, and clearly he did not let that hold him back.

WATCH MORE: Sportsline: Sports writer discusses Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s NBA MVP win