Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a dominant basketball talent recognized throughout the professional world. Currently playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he showcases a deceptive style of basketball with his intricate footwork, elusive head fakes, and natural abilities to score at the rim. After joining the NBA, SAI established himself as a top-scoring talent and gained respect from his peers as a team leader.
Quick Info |
|
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander |
| Birth Date: | July 12, 1998 |
| Age (as of 2025): | 26 Years |
| Birthplace: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Height: | 6-foot 6-inch (1.98-meter) |
| Wife: | Hailey Summers |
Early Life
His family history includes multiple athletes. Charmaine Gilgeous, his mother, competed as an Olympic sprinter for Antigua and Barbuda during the 1992 Summer Olympics. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander developed his passion for basketball through his father, Vaughn Alexander, who played the sport and actively supported his son’s development in the early stages.
At age 10, Shai moved to Hamilton with his younger brother after his parents separated while his mother worked as a social worker. His father continued mentoring their athletic growth as his mother shaped their sons with discipline and deference alongside her dedication to work. Shai did not display initial indications that he would become a star player.
During his freshman year, Shai got cut from his high school team, which forced him to play for the school’s underclassmen team. But that didn’t deter him. After his school change during his sophomore year at Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School, he began showing his true potential.
He shifted schools to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2015, which is recognized for developing elite basketball players. Scouts and coaches from across North America noticed him while he played at this location.
Career
College Years
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chose to play at the University of Kentucky under John Calipari’s star-studded team during the 2017–18 season. During his first season, Gilgeous-Alexander worked his way from bench substitute to starter and accumulated 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.
During the SEC tournament, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped Kentucky win before scoring 29 points in the title game against Tennessee to claim tournament MVP honors. The Kentucky college basketball team progressed to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Kansas State. Gilgeous-Alexander made his decision to enter the 2018 NBA Draft immediately following his high school graduation.
NBA Beginnings: Los Angeles Clippers
Shai landed 11th in the 2018 draft picks before getting traded by the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers on the same night. His first season as a pro showcased remarkable progress as he scored 10.8 points per game and guided the Clippers into playoff contention.
During Game 4 of the Golden State Warriors series, he scored 25 points, which showcased his future potential. He ranked sixth among rookies when voting took place for the year’s best debutant.
Rise in Oklahoma City
Shai joined Paul George and Danilo Gallinari when the Clippers traded him and multiple draft picks to Oklahoma City during the 2019 offseason for George. After completing the trade, Doc Rivers acknowledged he second-guessed the decision to trade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because he found him “too special.” That sentiment proved true.
Since joining the Thunder franchise, Gilgeous-Alexander saw his point-scoring numbers rise from 19 points per game in 2019-20 up to nearly 24 points per game in the two subsequent seasons. His scoring numbers skyrocketed during the 2022–23 season as he reached 31.4 points per game to place fourth in league scoring totals.
2023-24 saw Gilgeous-Alexander score 30.1 points while sharing the NBA top spot for steals with 150. The Thunder reached the playoffs in 2023 while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander placed second in the MVP race behind Nikola Jokić.
Olympic Debut
Shai joined Team Canada during their 2024 Olympic appearance at the Paris Games. The team advanced to the quarterfinal stage, where France eliminated them. His international career reached a noteworthy point during this period.
Personal Life
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied the knot with Hailey Summers, who spent 56 games playing defense for the University at Albany soccer team, hailing from Ontario. The six-year partners announced their pregnancy in 2023 through Instagram before getting married on Valentine’s Day in 2024.
Hailey chooses to maintain secrecy about her relationship status but frequently observes Shai’s games from the stands and gives him her honest feedback. The couple had their first child, named Ares, during the first months of 2024, although they selected the name solely based on its pleasant sound rather than its association with the Greek military deity.
Social Media
Through his Instagram page under the username @itstherealshai, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander successfully developed a powerful social media footprint, which now exceeds 4M followers. Based on his fashion-forward Instagram content, Shai stands out from other NBA style icons by merging high-end fashion elements with streetwear elements.
GQ declared Shai Gilgeous-Alexander their Most Stylish Man of the Year in 2022. At Paris Men’s Fashion Week, he walked the runway for Thom Browne in addition to other brands, which solidified his role as an influential trendsetter.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Net Worth
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander maintains a net worth of approximately $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth calculations from March 2025. His 2021 five-year $180 million maximum deal with the Thunder positioned him among the NBA’s top-paying athletes.
