Basketball player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named male athlete of the year according to The Canadian Press on Thursday.
The Ontarian has been nothing short of sparkling in 2023, becoming a star in the NBA and internationally.
The Hamilton player has impressed during the 2022-23 season, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder win 16 more games than the previous season.
This season, the Thunder amaze with a 20-9 performance, second in the West.
One of the big reasons: Gilgeous-Alexander is third in the league with 31.1 points per game, on average.
During the FIBA World Cup, he guided Canada to its very first medal at the event, bronze.
The result is that the maple leaf will go to the Olympiad for the first time since 2000.
“Representing Hamilton and helping to grow the popularity of basketball in Canada is one of the great joys of playing in the NBA,” Gilgeous-Alexander said in a statement. I very much appreciate this honor from The Canadian Press.
“I take great pride in my work ethic. Every day with the Thunder, I try to give my best so that Canadians are proud of me. »
He received 12 votes and narrowly beat Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (11), in the poll conducted by journalists and commentators from across the country.
“We haven’t seen this level of excellence in the NBA since Steve Nash,” said Tim Baines, a Postmedia sports columnist.
Canadian Open golf winner Nick Taylor and world decathlon champion Pierce LePage finished third with 10 votes each.
Gilgeous was an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career.
In their second game of the qualifying tournament, however, the Thunder lost to Minnesota, with eighth place in the playoffs at stake.
At the World Cup, Gilgeous-Alexander continued to excel, averaging 24.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game in eight games.
In the bronze medal game, he had 31 points and 12 assists, helping his team beat the United States in overtime.
“He could easily have been named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player,” argued Canadian team general manager Rowan Barrett.
Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to be Canada’s leading figure at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“Playing for Team Canada is an honor and being part of the group that won bronze at the World Cup is a highlight of my career,” said the 25-year-old Ontarian.
“At the same time, I can’t wait to get to work trying to go even further in Paris. »
This season, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA with 2.8 steals per game.
Through 10 games, his points per game average is 33.6.
The Thunder will play again Friday night in Denver.