From Local Court to NBA Glory: How SGA’s Hometown Roots Across From Hamilton Stadium Led to a Championship — and the Key to the City. Wait… What’s That Champion Doing?
It’s hard to imagine that just a decade ago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—affectionately known as SGA—was playing pick-up basketball across the street from Hamilton Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, on a slightly cracked court with faded lines. The air was filled with the laughter of neighborhood kids, the bounce of a well-worn Spalding, and the occasional blare of a passing train. Today, those same streets are buzzing for a very different reason: their hometown hero has returned, fresh off an NBA Championship victory, with a Finals MVP trophy under his arm and the Key to the City in his pocket.
The celebration was unlike anything Hamilton had seen in years. Streets were lined with fans draped in Thunder jerseys, Canadian flags waving in the breeze, and chants of “S-G-A! S-G-A!” echoing from every corner. The city organized a massive parade starting from the court where SGA once honed his craft to Hamilton City Hall, symbolizing his journey from humble beginnings to global stardom.
Mayor Colleen Morrison, flanked by city council members, presented the Key to the City in a heartfelt ceremony. “Shai isn’t just a champion in basketball,” Morrison said, her voice carrying over the roar of the crowd. “He’s a champion in character, humility, and in inspiring the next generation of Hamilton youth. His story is proof that greatness can grow right here in our own backyard.”
But just as the formalities wrapped up, a surprising moment turned the already festive day into a story that will be told for years. After posing for photos with city officials, SGA slipped away from the podium, walked straight toward the old Hamilton Court across from the stadium, and—in full championship gear—joined a group of teenagers in a pick-up game. No media script, no official schedule—just pure basketball love.
For nearly an hour, SGA dribbled, passed, and laughed like he was 14 again. Spectators crowded the fence, phones out, as the Finals MVP crossed over defenders, pulled off flashy passes, and encouraged the young players. “You never forget where you come from,” he told a local reporter who managed to catch his breath after sprinting over. “This court made me who I am. If I can give even one kid here the belief that their dreams are possible, that’s better than any award.”
Those words hit home for 16-year-old Marcus Reed, one of the lucky teens who found himself guarding SGA. “I was nervous,” Marcus admitted, still smiling hours later. “But he told me, ‘Don’t be scared of anybody on the court—play your game.’ I’ll never forget that.”
Back at City Hall, the official celebration resumed, but the pickup game was the talk of the town. Social media exploded with videos of SGA’s effortless jumpers and playful trash talk. The hashtag #HamiltonHero trended nationwide in Canada and even cracked U.S. basketball Twitter’s top 10.
Basketball analysts often talk about the “intangibles” that make a player great. For SGA, it’s not just his elite footwork, court vision, or clutch shooting—it’s his grounded nature, his connection to home, and his willingness to blur the line between superstar and neighbor.
As the sun set over Hamilton, the championship trophy glistened under the streetlights, but for many, the real victory was seeing their champion return exactly as they remembered him: the kid from across the street, still willing to hoop on the same cracked court, still giving his all to the game and the people who raised him.
