Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander (commonly known as SGA) is a talented Canadian professional basketball player currently playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
After playing one year of college basketball for the venerable Kentucky Wildcats, Gilgeous-Alexander was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
However, he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that night.
contour
- Full name: Shaionte Aisian Gilgeous-Alexander
- Stage name: SGA
- Date of birth: July 12, 1998
- Age: 26 years old
- Place of birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Nationality: Canadian
- Occupation: Canadian professional basketball
- Height: 1.98 m
- Parents: Vaughn Alexander and Charmaine Gilgeous
- Siblings: Thomas Gilgeous-Alexander
- Spouse: Hailey Summers (m. 2024)
- Children: Ares Alexander
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $15 million
early life and education
Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander, born on July 12, 1998 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a professional basketball player. His parents are Vaughn Alexander and Charmaine Gilgeous.
His mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, was a track and field athlete who represented Antigua and Barbuda in the women’s 400 meters at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
His father, Vaughn Alexander, played high school basketball and won a Toronto city championship. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a younger brother, Thomas Gilgeous-Alexander, who also plays basketball.
Shai began his high school education in Hamilton, Ontario, attending St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School before transferring to Sir Allan McNab Secondary School.
He later moved to the United States and attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, during his junior and senior years to further develop his basketball skills. He graduated in 2017.
After his high school career, Gilgeous-Alexander attended the University of Kentucky. He is a Canadian and a Christian.
Profession
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s college basketball career at Kentucky was relatively short but impactful. In the 2017-2018 season, Gilgeous-Alexander’s only year with the Wildcats, he showed his extraordinary talent, averaging 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
His impressive performance earned him a spot on the All-Southeastern Conference second team and the All-Southeastern Conference freshman team. Gilgeous-Alexander was named SEC Tournament MVP, his crowning achievement after leading Kentucky to the championship.
Despite a stellar freshman season, Gilgeous-Alexander decided to forgo the remainder of his college career and declared for the 2018 NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 11th overall pick in the first round, but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s career began with a successful rookie season with the Clippers, where he averaged 10.8 points per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In 2019, the Clippers traded Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the Paul George trade.
Since joining the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander has grown into one of the league’s most promising young stars. He continued to improve his scoring and organizational skills, and was selected to the All-Star and NBA First Team.
Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a strong MVP candidate in recent seasons, leading the Thunder to great success with his ability to score efficiently, create for teammates and impact games on both ends of the floor.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive resume isn’t limited to the NBA. He also made a name for himself internationally by representing Canada. In 2016, he led the Canadian team to a silver medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, averaging 18.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Most recently, Gilgeous-Alexander became Canada’s leading scorer at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, averaging 31.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, helping Canada win the bronze medal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s college career may have been short, but his impact was profound.
His seamless transition to the NBA, continued growth as a player and valuable contributions to the Canadian national team have solidified his status as one of the league’s most promising young stars with a bright future ahead of him.
Awards and nominations
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has received several honors during his career, including:
NBA Awards:
- NBA All-Stars: 2023, 2024
- All-NBA First Team: 2023
- NBA All-Rookie Team: 2019
International Awards:
- 2023 FIBA World Cup All-Star Team: 2023
- Northern Star Award: 2023 (Canadian Athlete of the Year)
- Lionel Conacher Award: 2023 (Canadian Male Athlete of the Year as selected by Canadian media)
social media
- Instagram account: @shai
- Facebook account: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Twitter account: @shaiglalex
personal life
Professional basketball player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander married his long-time girlfriend Hailey Summers in February 2024 after a period of dating. The couple welcomed their first child, Ares Alexander, in April 2024.
net worth
As of 2024, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $15 million. He signed a five-year, $180 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021, making him one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. His net worth is expected to grow as he becomes one of the best players in the league.
