The Oklahoma City Thunder are right where they want to be. They are beginning the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, gunning for a chance to repeat as NBA champions. Additionally, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his second consecutive NBA MVP by a large margin.

In attendance for the first game at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City was his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker, per NBA on ESPN. Earlier in the day, NAW celebrated SGA’s MVP Award win.

Family ❤️

NAW in attendance for Game 1 to support his cousin SGA in the WCF 🤝 pic.twitter.com/zyNlCuWpny

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 19, 2026

NAW has been a guard for the Atlanta Hawks since 2025, and is coming off a first-round playoff exit to the New York Knicks. Both grew up in Toronto, Canada, and were born in 1998. They are two months apart in age. SGA attended the University of Kentucky from 2017 to 2018. Meanwhile, NAW attended Virginia Tech from 2017 to 2019.

In 2018, SGA was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets as the 11th overall pick in the first round. Afterward, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and played one year (2018-2019). In July 2019, he was traded to the Thunder.

NAW was selected as the 17th overall pick in the first round by the Brooklyn Nets. After the Hawks picked up his draft rights, NAW was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he played from 2019 to 2022.

Afterward, NAW played for the Utah Jazz (2022-2023) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2023-2025). In June 2025, he signed a four-year $62 million contract with the Hawks in a sign-and-trade.

SGA finished his second MVP season, averaging 31.1 points and 6.3 assists per game, and shot 55.3%. Meanwhile, NAW averaged 20.8 points and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field.