If you’ve spent any time watching the Oklahoma City Thunder lately, you know that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—or simply "SGA"—is basically a basketball wizard. He’s got that weird, jerky, unstoppable rhythm that keeps defenders awake at night. But as his star has exploded into the MVP stratosphere, fans have started asking a very specific question: does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have a brother in the NBA?
Honestly, the answer is a little complicated. It’s a "yes" and a "no" depending on how strictly you define the word "brother."
If you mean a biological, share-the-same-parents kind of brother, then no. Shai does have a younger brother, Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander, but he hasn't made it to the league yet. However, if you're watching a game and see a guy who looks strikingly similar to Shai, moves like him, and even shares part of that long, hyphenated last name, you aren't seeing things. That's Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and while they are officially cousins, they basically grew up as brothers.
The "Brother" Who Actually Plays in the NBA
Let’s talk about Nickeil Alexander-Walker for a second. If you’ve been confused by this, don’t feel bad. Even the announcers sometimes have to double-check their notes. Nickeil currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the resemblance to Shai is uncanny.
They weren't just distant relatives who saw each other at Christmas. These two were inseparable growing up in Hamilton, Ontario. They were born just 52 days apart. Think about that—two kids, born two months apart in the same family, both ending up as elite guards in the best basketball league on the planet.
They did everything together. They shared a room for two years in high school when they moved from Canada to Tennessee to play at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy. They lived in the same bed at times because space was tight. They practiced together. They dreamed the same hyper-specific dream of making the NBA.
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Shai has gone on record saying Nickeil is "like my second brother." When they faced off in the 2024 Western Conference playoffs, it wasn't just another game. It was a family reunion with extremely high stakes. Their parents—Shai’s dad Vaughn and Nickeil’s mom Nicole (who are siblings)—were in the stands together, probably just trying to keep their hearts from exploding.
Who is Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander?
Now, if we’re talking biological siblings, we have to talk about Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander.
Thomasi is the younger brother of Shai. While he hasn't hit the NBA hardwood, he’s a serious ballplayer in his own right. He’s around 6'5", which seems to be the standard-issue height for that family, and he’s been grinding through the college ranks.
He’s bounced around a bit, playing at the University of Evansville and then spending time in the JUCO circuit at places like Santa Monica College. Watching his highlights is like seeing a slightly raw version of Shai. The genes are definitely there—the length, the vision, the way he glides to the rim.
Will he make the NBA? That's a tough road. The gap between "really good college player" and "NBA rotation piece" is a canyon. But in a family where the mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, was an Olympic sprinter and the father was a legendary Toronto high school hooper, you never bet against the DNA.
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A Family Built on "No Flukes"
The reason people get so curious about Shai’s family is that they seem to have cracked some kind of secret code for producing elite athletes. It isn't just luck.
Shai’s father, Vaughn Alexander, runs an organization called the No Flukes Foundation. The name tells you everything you need to know about their upbringing. There were no video games. There wasn't much TV. It was school and basketball. Period.
Vaughn coached both Shai and Nickeil when they were kids. He pushed them to be "positionless" players before that was even a trendy NBA term. That’s why you see Shai—a tall guard—able to rebound, defend, and post up like a much bigger player. He was trained to do it all.
The Canadian Connection
It's also worth noting how much this family represents the massive boom in Canadian basketball. For decades, Canada was a hockey country that happened to have a few basketball hoops. Now, thanks to the "Vince Carter effect" and families like the Gilgeous-Alexanders, Canada is a global powerhouse.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: All-NBA First Team, MVP candidate, face of the OKC Thunder.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: Elite perimeter defender, key piece for a title-contending Timberwolves team.
- Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander: Still fighting for his professional dream.
Why the Confusion Persists
The confusion about Shai's "brother" usually stems from three things:
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- The Names: Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Both have the "Alexander" and both have hyphenated surnames. It sounds like a set of brothers.
- The Aesthetics: They have similar builds, similar heights, and often rock similar hairstyles. On a fast break, if you aren't looking at the jersey number, it’s easy to mix them up.
- The Close Bond: They talk about each other as brothers. In interviews, Shai rarely uses the word "cousin." He uses "brother."
If you’re looking for a biological brother in the league, you won't find one. But if you’re looking for a brotherhood that defines the current era of the NBA, the Shai-Nickeil connection is it. They are two halves of the same basketball soul, raised in the same house, forged in the same gyms, now competing at the highest level.
What’s Next for the Family?
Keep an eye on the international stage. When Team Canada suits up for the Olympics or the FIBA World Cup, you’ll likely see Shai and Nickeil sharing the backcourt. It’s one of the few times they get to be on the same side of the ball, and their chemistry is basically telepathic.
As for Thomasi, his journey is still being written. Whether he reaches the NBA or finds a pro career in Europe or elsewhere, the Gilgeous-Alexander legacy is already cemented.
If you want to stay updated on how the family is doing, the best way is to follow the box scores for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Every time these two teams play, it’s more than just a divisional rivalry. It’s a battle between two guys who used to share a bunk bed and are now fighting for NBA supremacy.
To really see the "brotherhood" in action, go back and watch the highlights of the 2024 playoffs. Watch the way Nickeil defends Shai. It’s physical, it’s intense, and it’s clearly personal. That is exactly how brothers play against each other in the driveway—except this driveway has 20,000 screaming fans and millions of dollars on the line.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the NBA schedule for the next Thunder vs. Timberwolves matchup to see the "cousin-brothers" go head-to-head.
- Follow the No Flukes Foundation on social media to see how Vaughn Alexander is training the next generation of Canadian talent.
- Keep an eye on the Canadian National Team roster for the next FIBA cycle to see the family duo play together.