Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a Canadian professional basketball player, is a shooting guard and small forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. At a young age, Gilgeous-Alexander quickly emerged as a top player in the NBA, leaving a lasting impression on several teams. His ongoing growth in skill suggests he will soon be recognized as one of the league’s premier players.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Bio Summary
Full name: Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander
Date of Birth: July 12, 1998
Nationality: Canadian
Height: 6 ft 5 in
Current Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Role: Point Guard
Past Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Marital status: Married
Wife’s name: Hailey Summers
Childhood
Born on July 12, 1998, in Toronto, Ontario, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a guard in the NBA. His mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, was a track star who represented Antigua and Barbuda at the 1992 Summer Olympics, while his father, Vaughn Alexander, was his youth coach.
Education
He started his high school education at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, but later transferred to Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School. For his final two years, he attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee to advance his basketball abilities.
During his senior year, Gilgeous-Alexander achieved an average of more than 18 points and 4 rebounds per game. He also participated in the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit and represented Canada in the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 tournament. He graduated from the academy in 2017.
Gilgeous-Alexander, like numerous other promising high school athletes, decided to play for the Kentucky Wildcats during his college years.
His teammate Kevin Knox, who the Knicks selected in the first ten picks of the 2018 draft, also joined the Kentucky team. Although initially a substitute point guard, Gilgeous-Alexander quickly worked his way up to becoming a starter and was eventually recognized as the SEC Tournament’s MVP during his first year.
In the 2018 NCAA Tournament, Kentucky reached the Sweet Sixteen but ultimately fell to Kansas State. As a result, Gilgeous-Alexander announced his decision to enter the NBA Draft. Throughout his single year in college, he maintained an average of 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game in 33.7 minutes of playtime.
NBA Career
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s journey in the NBA began when he was selected as the 11th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 draft.
However, he was quickly traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on the same day, with Miles Bridges and multiple second-round picks being exchanged. Despite being a rookie, he had an impressive performance, with an average of 10.8 points per game and a high field goal percentage of 47%.
Following his first year in the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In addition to receiving Danilo Gallinari, OKC also gained multiple first-round picks as part of the trade, while perennial all-star Paul George was sent to the Clippers.
Due to the trade, Gilgeous-Alexander had the opportunity to team up with experienced point guard and consistent double-double performer Chris Paul. The deal proved to be advantageous for Gilgeous-Alexander, as his scoring average rose to more than 19 points per game, and the Thunder were immediately in the running for a playoff spot.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made an impressive start to the pre-season as he contributed 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s 119-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Later in December, he achieved a personal best against his previous team, scoring 32 points while also dishing out 5 assists, grabbing 3 rebounds, and making 2 steals.
Personal Life
On Wednesday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander discreetly shared a personal update on social media. The NBA player revealed on an Instagram story that he and his girlfriend Hailey Summers, who used to play soccer for the University of Albany, tied the knot on February 14th, 2024.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Summers revealed their engagement in June 2023, with Summers sharing a photo on Instagram of their intertwined hands, highlighting her dazzling diamond ring. The couple then announced in December 2023 that they had a baby on the way.
Net Worth
In 2018, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander inked a rookie contract worth $11 million with the Los Angeles team. His estimated net worth falls within the range of $1 million to $5 million.
As he gains more experience in the NBA and his fame grows, he is expected to secure a highly profitable second contract, thereby increasing his overall net worth in the coming years.
After his draft, Gilgeous-Alexander inked a contract with Nike and is expected to receive more lucrative offers as he rises in the ranks of the league’s elite players.
