Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the top scorer in the NBA last season who also earned the league MVP and Finals MVP titles, was crowned the Canadian athlete of the year on Tuesday. A panel of sports media professionals in Toronto chose the Hamilton native over other notable athletes, including Olympic swimmer Summer McIntosh, curler Rachel Homan, World Rugby women’s player of the year Sophie de Goede, and world hammer throw champion Camryn Rogers. Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, previously won the Northern Star Award in 2023 for his exceptional performance in leading the Canadian men’s national basketball team to a historic bronze at the Basketball World Cup and securing the team’s first Olympic spot in 23 years.
Having become the second Canadian NBA MVP after Steve Nash, Gilgeous-Alexander showcased remarkable stats last season with an average of 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and five rebounds per game, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a franchise-record 68-14 season and their second NBA title. He became the first guard to win the MVP award since James Harden in 2018. Gilgeous-Alexander joined the elite group of NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players to clinch the scoring title, league MVP, NBA championship, and Finals MVP in a single season.
Despite being cut from his junior varsity team in Grade 9 and facing initial challenges in his basketball journey, Gilgeous-Alexander’s perseverance and hard work have paid off. Tim Francis, his former coach at Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School, praised his humility, work ethic, and leadership qualities. The rising star continues to excel on the court, improving his scoring average to 32.8 points per game this season while achieving career-best shooting percentages.
In a separate sporting achievement, Summer McIntosh, the 19-year-old swimming sensation, dominated the World Aquatics Championships by securing four gold medals and a bronze in various events. McIntosh’s outstanding performance at the championships positioned her as only the second woman in history to claim four individual titles in a 50m pool during a single long-course world championship. With a total of 13 career world medals, including eight gold, McIntosh’s dedication and talent have solidified her status as a rising star in the swimming world.
The prestigious Northern Star Award, previously known as the Lou Marsh Award, is an annual accolade presented by the Toronto Star and decided upon by sports journalists nationwide. The award, established in 1936, underwent a name change in 2023 due to concerns regarding racist language used by its former namesake, Lou Marsh, a former football player and NHL referee known for his work at the Toronto Star’s sports department.