Announcing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2nd MVP Leaves Shams Charania in NBA on Prime’s Crosshairs: “Go to Brunch You Nerd”

ESPN's Shams Charania announced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as this year's MVP even though NBA on Prime were supposed to do it.

Announcing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2nd MVP Leaves Shams Charania in NBA on Prime’s Crosshairs: “Go to Brunch You Nerd”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA on Prime crew, and Shams Charania (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second consecutive NBA MVP award, becoming the 14th player in history to achieve this feat.
  • Shams Charania's premature announcement of the MVP award sparked humorous criticism from NBA on Prime hosts.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander expressed gratitude to Steve Nash for his early belief in him as he prepares for the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs.

Last season, the NBA took quite too long to announce Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the 2025 regular season MVP.

Basketball fans understood the league’s decision to hold on to the award until the end of the Western Conference semifinals between OKC and the Denver Nuggets.

After all, Nikola Jokic was neck-and-neck with the Canadian in that race, and many felt the latter only outpaced his European counterpart in that series.

Despite that, fans were not appreciative of the NBA’s decision to award Gilgeous-Alexander, as many felt they were rewarding his incessant foul-baiting over arguably the best basketball player in the world.

This season, his free-throw merchant label did not go amiss, but everyone understood the reigning MVP was on a mission. That explains why he was quite a bit ahead of Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, the other two finalists this season.

But what NBA on Prime could not explain was why Shams Charania tweeted out the result at a time when they were supposed to announce it.

Dirk and Steve you both won MVPs but I don’t remember Shams spoiling it way back then.

NBA on Prime’s Taylor Rooks remarked

The network’s primary host said it humorously, so as not to make it a point of contention between the two networks.

What are we doing, man? It’s Sunday Shams. Go to brunch, you nerd. C’mon!

Blake Griffin said

The six-time All-Star also said this in a joking manner, which left his colleagues laughing. They all know this was probably an oversight on Charania’s part. He probably forgot that the league had scheduled its newest broadcast partner to announce the MVP award.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander credits Steve Nash for believing in him

Eventually, the crew of NBA on Prime stopped taking shots at Shams Charania and proceeded to ‘officially’ announce this year’s MVP award. After Taylor Rooks handed Steve Nash the envelope, the former back-to-back MVP declared his countryman as the latest back-to-back MVP awardee.

When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander appeared in front of reporters at OKC’s facility a while later, they asked about that moment where one Canadian announced another’s achievement.

Full circle moment… He was the first person to really like tell me I was going to the NBA other than my family. It’s crazy how life works… He saw it early, and I just believed ever since.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander replied

When the former Phoenix Suns great was in the NBA, there were hardly any other notable players from up north. Now, almost the entire Canadian national basketball team plays in the league.

For the Thunder superstar to rise above the best of American and other international players to win back-to-back MVP awards, this moment was surreal for both. Maybe that’s why the crew of NBA on Prime were miffed as Charania spoiled it for Nash.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives credit to Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs ahead of Conference Finals clash

After notching his second MVP award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates will finalize their preparations before Victor Wembanyama and his San Antonio Spurs arrive at Paycom Center.

Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will clash in Conference Finals
Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will clash in Conference Finals (Image via Pisounalinha/X)

Obviously, a really good team. They’ve been right behind us all year, so we obviously don’t take them in the slightest. They’re a really good team.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander replied

The 27-year-old gave their Western Conference Finals opponents the ultimate respect, knowing it takes a lot to finish second in their tightly contested conference.

Then, for them to upset strong teams en route to the Finals speaks volumes about their resilience, despite their lack of experience.

SGA also remarked that he and his teammates have to play their brand of basketball against the Spurs. That might be a smokescreen. In five games this past regular season, the latter won four times. Therefore, they might have to do things differently.

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