Arya News - The back-to-back NBA MVP has said that soccer was his first sport growing up in Canada.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined the ownership group of Spanish soccer team Atlético Madrid, it was announced on Thursday .
"I"m excited to officially join Atlético de Madrid"s ownership group," Gilgeous-Alexander said in a statement. "This is a club with a long-standing presence at the top of European football, and I"m grateful for the opportunity to be part of its future."
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The back-to-back NBA MVP is joining the La Liga side as an investor and shareholder.
The club, which has won 11 league titles, 10 Copa del Reys, 3 UEFA Europa Leagues and 3 UEFA Super Cups, currently sits in second place in the La Liga table , five points behind leaders Barcelona.
Atlético de Madrid, founded in 1903, has featured numerous legendary players including Luis Aragonés, Jan Oblak and Antoine Griezmann, among many others.
Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder to the 2024-25 NBA title, while also winning NBA Finals MVP during that playoff run. He is a four-time All-NBA First-Team player and All-Star and led the league in scoring two seasons ago.
He also has a long-time connection with soccer. In a 2025 Q&A with fans through GQ magazine, Gilgeous-Alexander revealed the game was his first sport growing up in Hamilton, Ontario. He"s also developed a friendship with Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior and linked up with him two years ago in Spain.