“My ultimate goal is to not set a franchise record in wins, but to hoist the trophy at the end of the season.”  These words, spoken by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a franchise-record 56 wins in late March 2025, reflect more than ambition. They echo a lifetime of lessons from a family where greatness was never about glory but grit, humility, and heart. From his mother, an Olympian sprinter who taught him to stay grounded, to his father, a Toronto basketball legend who believed in his son’s future before anyone else did, Shai’s rise isn’t just about stats—it’s about legacy.

For a player so focused, so balanced, and so humble despite the spotlight, there had to be a solid foundation behind the scenes. And it began at home, with a mother who raced on the world stage and a father who nurtured his dream in Toronto gyms.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s parents: Meet Charmaine and Vaughn Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Charmaine Gilgeous and Vaughn Alexander. His mother, Charmaine, is a former track athlete from Antigua and Barbuda. His father, Vaughn, played high school basketball and is also of Antiguan descent.

Who is Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s mother, Charmaine? Was she an Olympic athlete?

Yes, Charmaine Gilegeous was an Olympic athlete. She was a sprinter and represented Antigua and Barbuda in the 1992 Summer Olympics. She ran in the second heat of the women’s 400-metre sprint against Olympic medalists like Sandie Richards of Jamaica, Jearl Miles of the United States, and Sandra Douglas of Great Britain.

Naturally, the athletic genes have been passed on to Shai and have made him the basketball star he is today. Along with her competitive nature and natural athletic abilities, Charmaine also instilled in Shai, from his childhood, the need to stay humble and rooted to the ground despite being successful. 

Source: Instagram

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Shai told the Canadian basketball team’s locker room about how his mother still instills in him the importance of humility in one’s character. “I work hard, so I have confidence. And the people around me don’t let my head get too big—especially my mom, she tells me I suck every day.”

Coming from an athlete who competed in the highest levels of her sport, that is great advice. And it seems Shai Gilgeous-Alexander really paid attention to his mother’s teachings because he is actually one of the most humble basketball stars in today’s NBA. Despite being one of the best players in the league and arguably the favorite to win the MVP trophy, you’ll hardly ever see him making bold claims about his past achievements and also about what he can do in the future. With his mom influencing his character, Shai’s dad helped build the basketball side of him. 

Who is Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s father, Vaughn? 

Vaughn Alexander played high school basketball and won a Toronto city championship in the early 1990s while attending Georges Vanier Secondary School. He also coached the future NBA star as a youth, teaching him the fundamentals of the game. He is also a staunch, vocal supporter of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 

Brendan Jennings asked Vaughn Alexander on Gil’s Arena if he believes his son is the MVP, and this is what he said: “100%. Like I said, not because he’s my son. If he wasn’t my son, I’d be like “Yo, this is the MVP, bro. I rate what Jokic is doing. What Jokic is doing is crazy. Let’s keep it real. I don’t even want to say this on air but if he wasn’t to win it, I wouldn’t be like he got snubbed because what he’s doing is stupid. It really is, let’s just keep it real. But, having said all that. F**k that s**t. Shai’s the MVP.” Vaughn Alexander was enthusiastic when he said this, sounding pretty confident about Shai’s chances for the MVP trophy.

Shai is the league’s leading scorer this season, and the Thunder are the top-seeded team in the Western Conference. Nikola Jokic has also been putting in mind-boggling numbers this season to average 29.6 points with 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists. But the Denver Nuggets haven’t been at their best this season and finished 4th at the end of the regular season. This makes Shai a favorite to be this year’s MVP. He has the potential to win both individual and team awards, with the Thunder being one of the favorites to be the champion in June. Whether he and the Thunder achieve all of that will be something really exciting to watch as the playoffs start in a few days!