The boy who once couldn t even get in the school team now makes his name comparable to Jordan Jabbar

Alexander created history and led the team to win the first championship.

In the NBA's nearly 80 years of history, there are very few players who can win the scoring title, regular season MVP and finals MVP in a single season. Alexander, 26, now puts his name with great players such as Jabbar, Jordan and O'Neal.

On June 23, the NBA for the 2024-2025 season came to a big curtain, and the Thunder finally won the championship trophy. Alexander, who scored 29 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds in the final battle of the entire season, deserves to be the Finals MVP (FMVP).

became the third player in the Thunder's history to bring MVP glory back to Oklahoma City after Durant and Westbrook a month ago. Now, he has created the history of this team and became Oklahoma City's own first FMVP.

For Alexander, this road to the top of the NBA is not easy to go - he failed to enter the school team in high school, failed to get a five-star rating in college, was traded by the Clippers at the end of his rookie season, and led the team to play good results as the core of the Thunder but was controversial... However, when he fell into the "undervalued" curse at each stage, he always hit back.

"I am addicted to the feeling of becoming stronger." This "underrated" young man has rewrited many historical records, but he still wants to win more. "Since he has reached this point, since he has only had a peak of ten years at most - why not give everything and see how he can become?" In the finals series, Alexander can always stand up at a critical moment.

Questioning and criticism cannot cover up a great season

In early March this year, when Mike Malone was still the head coach of the Nuggets, he told reporters that players like Jokic would "are likely to win the MVP"; two months later, when Alexander led the Thunder to win the Timberwolves in the first game of the Western Conference Finals, Malone, who was already at home, suddenly changed his mouth, "Alexander showed why he is an MVP. He took over the game in the second half, and was extremely efficient, and carried the team on his shoulders."

Whether Malone's attitude changes were related to his being fired by the Nuggets, at least the champion coach said Alexander's biggest label in this MVP season, that is, he can always stand up at critical moments and help the Thunder play the results.

In the third quarter of the first match of the Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves reversed the situation for a while, but in the end, Alexander stood up again, scored a game-high 31 points, and sent 9 assists, becoming the number one hero for the Thunder to win the first game. However, after that game, Alexander's several offenses and referees' penalty also caused considerable controversy. He got 14 free throws throughout the game, several of which were due to his active contact in the confrontation, and the discussion of "fraud fouls" and "referees' help" was rampant. Kevin O'Connor, a famous NBA reporter, is a typical representative of the questioning faction. "Alexander did make a fake fall and won some fouls, and the referee should not indulge him like that."

In fact, even though Alexander led the Thunder to return to the Finals after 13 years, such doubts and criticism have always revolved around him, including his free throws in the season and his "slightly soft" offensive style, which are not only the key points criticized by the outside world, but are even magnified on the stage of the finals.

Just before the "Battle of Kings Mountain" in the finals, the American media gave an interesting data comparison: when Alexander got 36 free throws, Halliburton's data was only 3 times.

Alexander has been called a "master of fraud and fouls" by many people throughout the season.

However, from leading the team to winning the first place in the Western Conference in the regular season to winning the first place in the playoffs, to standing up at critical moments in the finals. Alexander's performance also conquered many people. Former NBA player Brandon Haywood is now a basketball commentator, and is a fan of Alexander. "I hate his wonderful performance throughout the year but has been criticized by netizens as a free throw machine. Among all the players who averaged more than 30 points per game since 2005, Alexander ranked 23rd in free throws - if you only look at the last 20 MVPs, he ranked 10th. Perhaps the claim of "scam foul masters" has been exaggerated."

Indeed, in terms of data and honor, Alexander played a perfect season - when he led the team to win the first place in the Western Conference for the second consecutive year, he averaged 32. He scored the scoring champion with 7 points; his shooting percentage was 51.9% and his three-point shooting percentage was 37.5%, which is his fourth time in his career in a single season shooting percentage of more than 50%; in addition, he averaged the second in the team this season; scored between 30 and 34 points in 34 games, setting a record in NBA's historical single-season; he averaged 23.7 breakthroughs per game, leading the league, and ranked fourth in the 2013-2014 season, and he is the top three. He is the most efficient player in a single season since this statistics.

Now, when the titles of regular season scoring champion, regular season MVP and FMVP are all gathered on Alexander, these honors are also the best recognition and praise for Alexander.

Alexander's career is not smooth, but he can always prove himself at critical moments. ”

Alexander's values ​​and Thunder's "team first" team culture have now collided with wonderful sparks. Chet Homegren admitted that the Thunder was lucky to find a leader who was so compatible with the team culture. Thunder head coach Mark Dignot said: "During the entire growth process, Alexander was always the same person. If anything, it is that his relationship with his teammates has become closer and more harmonious. ”

Now, Alexander, accompanied by his teammates, won the championship trophy and put his name together with Jordan, O'Neal and Jabbar. In fact, just before this year's finals, when the American media marked the Thunder as the "champion favorite", they had already imagined that Alexander could lead the team to create a long-lost dynasty in the NBA league.

Alexander said more than once After all, the support of his teammates is the key to his success.

You should know that in the previous six seasons, the NBA welcomed six different championships. Now, Alexander and the Thunder may break this curse.

"I try not to worry about the results, but only focus on what has brought me to this day: it is hard training day after day, trusting my partners around me, and being sure of every choice that has allowed me to arrive here. "Alexander is not a high-profile star, but he is full of confidence in everything he can do. "This is my life script, always on the road to excellence. ”