Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is about to step into some elite NBA history this Christmas Day - and he’s doing it on one of the league’s biggest stages. When the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs in a nationally televised matchup on ABC and ESPN, Gilgeous-Alexander will become the first reigning Kia NBA MVP and Finals MVP to suit up on Christmas since LeBron James did it back in 2013 with the Miami Heat.
That’s not just a cool stat - it’s a reflection of how far Shai and the Thunder have come. A decade ago, it was LeBron leading a Miami dynasty.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to become the first reigning Kia NBA MVP and Finals MVP to play on Christmas since LeBron James in 2013.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 24, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander and the @okcthunder host the @spurs on #NBAXmas at 2:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jRUuznmxWl
Now, it’s Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm of a surging Oklahoma City squad that’s suddenly the team to beat in the NBA. The league clearly knows it, too - that’s why they’re front and center on Christmas.
At 27, Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a season that was nothing short of legendary. He didn’t just win MVP - he also took home Finals MVP honors after guiding the Thunder to their first NBA title since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City. The Thunder rolled through the regular season with 68 wins, then outlasted the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game Finals thriller to cap off a historic campaign.
And if you thought last season was a peak, Shai’s making it clear he’s not done climbing. Through 29 games this year, he’s averaging 32.5 points per game - a career high - along with 6.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
He’s been lethal with his efficiency, shooting a blistering 55.7% from the field and 43.5% from deep, all while logging just over 33 minutes a night. Those are video game numbers, and he’s doing it night after night.
Still, even the league’s top teams hit a bump or two. After a red-hot 24-1 start, Oklahoma City has dropped three of its last five, including two tough losses to the Spurs - one in the NBA Cup semifinals in Vegas and another just days ago in San Antonio. That sets the stage for a little revenge on Christmas, and you can bet the Thunder have that circled.
Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. ET, and it kicks off a four-game homestand for Oklahoma City, who enter the holiday at 26-4. It's a chance for the Thunder to reassert their dominance and for Shai to remind everyone why his name is now being mentioned in the same breath as LeBron’s.
And speaking of LeBron - he’s still very much part of the Christmas Day tradition. Later in the day, he and the Lakers (19-9) will host the Houston Rockets (17-10), adding another chapter to a holiday showcase that now connects two MVPs across generations. But make no mistake: this Christmas, all eyes will be on Oklahoma City, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is continuing to build a legacy that’s starting to feel downright iconic.