“She set a tone for how my approach is. Because if you attack things on the nose and you don’t try to beat around the bush, then that’s how you get through it easier,” said OKC Thunder guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander on his mother Charmaine Gilgeous’ impact on his career. Shai is known for the immense aura he brings to the court- even so that Giannis Antetokounmpo was asking for his secret before the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. His quote now reveals the secret to be his mother’s tips and tricks to get through life as a professional athlete.

Born on 17th December 1971, Antigua and Barbuda native Charmaine Gilgeous made sure to parent her children the right way. According to Shai, it was her tough love that really made him the mature head he is today. She’s straightforward and critical about his performances, often pointing out areas of improvement instead of praising him for it every time. Seeing how the 26-year-old now is in the running to be the MVP of the season, it seems to be working out.

All this doesn’t just come from thin air- she has a background in being a professional athlete herself. Charmaine is a former sprinter, even doing as much as to rep Antigua and Barbuda’s red, black, blue, white, and yellow colors during the 1992 Summer Olympic Games. In the women’s 400-meter event, she finished fifth in the opening heats and did not advance to the finals.

This all stems from being a child prodigy. Growing up in Canada herself, Mama Gilgeous was an Ontario provincial champion in the midget 200 meters in 1986, midget 100 meters in 1987, and junior 100 meters in 1988. She continued this legacy while repping the Crimson Tide colors, sprinting for the University of Alabama. Her talent was enough to add five-time All-American achievements under her belt before she chose to sprint for her home country of Antigua and Barbuda. Oh, she also has a personal best of 55.48 seconds in a 400m sprint.

SGA has been outwardly spoken about the sacrifices his mother’s made and the attitude she’s helped nurture. He even told it to the rest of the Canadian locker room during the 2024 Paris Olympics, talking about how he was proud to carry the torch for Olympic athletes in the family. “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.” Well, at least there’s a clear reason behind his success.

Shai on the hunt for championship glory

OKC Thunder have only won 1 championship in their history, and it was back in 1979 when they were the Seattle SuperSonics. Since their shift to Oklahoma City in 2008, it’s been murky waters for the Thunders. They’ve come a long way since the Kevin Durant–Russell Westbrook days, and it seems like they’ve found the right pillar in the team to build around in the form of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

SGA has been improving season-by-season and is already in the running to be the MVP this season. His battle with Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić is set to go down to the wire. He’s undoubtedly been their best player this season and is almost single-handedly responsible for them being at the top of the West for two years. I know they haven’t finish the current season yet, but it’d take a miracle to stop Shai with the way he’s going this season. He’s already averaging a career-high 32.5 PPG, while also having 5.1 RPG, 6.1 RPG, and a 52.3% FG% in just the 53 games he’s played so far this season.

Shai has his sights set on bringing the Thunders back to championship glory. He’s in the prime of his career, and there’s no better time than the present. He’s the torch bearer for the Gilgeous-Alexander family’s legacy in the world of sports, and his mother Charmaine Gilgeous has certainly played a huge role in him getting to where he is now.