Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t just picking up where he left off-he’s pushing the bar even higher. The reigning MVP and centerpiece of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder is right back in the thick of the MVP race, and he's doing it with the kind of poise and control that’s earned him praise from some of the game’s greats.
Steve Nash says SGA, not him is the best Canadian player of all time pic.twitter.com/HLWy40nsb0
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 31, 2026
One of those voices? None other than Hall of Famer Steve Nash, who didn’t hesitate to call SGA the best Canadian player in NBA history.
That’s no small compliment coming from Nash, a two-time MVP himself, eight-time All-Star, and one of the most gifted passers the league has ever seen. Nash, who never won a ring during his storied career, made the declaration during an in-studio segment for NBA on Prime-essentially passing the torch to the Thunder’s rising superstar.
And Gilgeous-Alexander is backing up that praise with his play, even as the Thunder hit a rough patch. Oklahoma City has dropped three of its last four, including a 123-111 loss to the Timberwolves, but SGA continues to be the engine that drives everything.
Injuries have thinned the rotation, but Gilgeous-Alexander’s production hasn’t skipped a beat. He’s still creating offense at an elite level, keeping the Thunder afloat amid adversity.
But SGA isn’t sugarcoating anything. After the loss to Minnesota, he questioned whether the Thunder came into the game with the right mindset.
It wasn’t a shot at his teammates-it was an honest assessment from a leader who knows what it takes to win in this league. And with a rematch against the Denver Nuggets looming, there’s no time for second-guessing.
Here’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after OKC’s loss to Minnesota pic.twitter.com/CUXeJyIUy0
— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) January 30, 2026
The Nuggets, of course, are no ordinary opponent. Sunday’s showdown is a rematch of last year’s Western Conference semifinals, and it’s shaping up to be another heavyweight clash. If the Thunder want to bounce back and reassert themselves, they’ll need to bring a sharper edge-and it starts with SGA setting the tone.
This is what separates Gilgeous-Alexander from most stars his age. He’s not just putting up numbers; he’s holding his team-and himself-accountable.
That’s leadership. That’s MVP stuff.
And if Oklahoma City is going to make a run at back-to-back titles, it’s going to be because SGA continues to lead with both his game and his voice.
The Thunder have a tough road ahead, but with Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, they’ve got a fighting chance every night.