HAMILTON — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has earned another international spotlight, this time away from the basketball court.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star appears on the October edition of TIME magazine, a milestone reported Thursday by Hamilton broadcaster CHCH. For a city that has followed his rise, the cover is another opportunity to see a hometown athlete reach an audience beyond sports.

It arrives at a point when Gilgeous-Alexander’s career has several dimensions: championship-winning guard, Canadian national-team leader, fashion personality and investor in Hamilton’s sports and entertainment future.

The confidence behind the cover

In a profile published October 8, TIME writer Sean Gregory explores the 28-year-old’s competitive outlook, training and life beyond basketball. The feature’s photography is by Sharif Hamza.

“I think I’m the best player in the NBA,” Gilgeous-Alexander told TIME.

The statement is his own assessment, but his achievements give the debate substance. The profile also examines criticism of his ability to draw fouls and his response to Oklahoma City’s playoff disappointment. He presents setbacks as problems to study and improve upon, rather than a reason to play angry.

Hamilton remains part of that account. Gilgeous-Alexander credits his upbringing in the city with shaping his work ethic, while the feature describes the offseason practice behind his changes of pace and controlled movement.

A résumé that supports the spotlight

The NBA named Gilgeous-Alexander its 2025–26 Most Valuable Player on May 17, making him the 14th player in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons.

According to the league’s announcement, he averaged 31.1 points while shooting 55.3 per cent from the field. He became the first guard to average at least 30 points while shooting 55 per cent or better in a season.

He also scored at least 20 points in all 68 of his regular-season appearances. His NBA-record streak of consecutive 20-point games reached 140 by the season’s end.

Those individual results accompanied a league-best 64–18 record for Oklahoma City. The NBA also awarded him Clutch Player of the Year after he led the league in several late-game scoring measures.

The numbers help explain why his latest cover has attracted attention: it follows sustained performance at the top of his sport.

Hamilton roots, with an investment to match

Although his NBA career is based in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander’s relationship with Hamilton now includes a stake in one of its major venues.

On February 9, Oak View Group announced that he had joined the ownership group of TD Coliseum. The announcement described his investment as a long-term commitment to the city’s growth as a destination for sports and entertainment.

“Growing up in Hamilton shaped who I am,” he said in that announcement.

The partnership includes the Ares Atrium, named after his son, along York Boulevard. Oak View Group also outlined plans for community programming and events connected to his charitable organization.

For local readers, that makes the hometown connection tangible. His involvement extends from representing Hamilton in interviews to participating in the future of a downtown gathering place.

A Canadian story beyond the NBA

Gilgeous-Alexander’s national significance also comes from playing for Canada.

At the 2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup, he helped Canada secure its first medal in the tournament’s history. Canada defeated the United States 127–118 in overtime to win bronze.

Canada Basketball’s game report recorded 31 points, 12 assists and six rebounds for Gilgeous-Alexander. Dillon Brooks scored 39 points, while RJ Barrett added 23 in a victory that depended on contributions across the roster.

That result gave Canadian supporters a defining international achievement alongside his NBA success. It also offers useful context for the TIME cover: his audience includes fans who first connected with him through the national team.

From prospect to a familiar name

The Canadian Olympic Committee lists Toronto as his birthplace and Hamilton as his hometown. His route to the NBA included one season at the University of Kentucky, where he helped win the SEC Tournament and earned tournament MVP honours.

Charlotte selected him 11th overall in the 2018 NBA draft before trading him to the Los Angeles Clippers. After his rookie season, he moved to Oklahoma City in 2019.

The cover captures how far that journey has taken him. It gives Hamilton and Canadian fans another moment to recognize a career built through years of development—and another reason to watch what comes next.

Sources: TIME, October 8: Sean Gregory’s profile; CHCH, October 8: October magazine cover; NBA Communications, May 17: 2025–26 MVP announcement; Oak View Group, February 9: TD Coliseum investment; Canada Basketball: 2023 World Cup bronze-medal game; Canadian Olympic Committee: athlete biography.

AI-generated editorial illustration of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for The Northern Current. This is not a photograph, TIME’s cover image or an image of an actual event.