Shai's father is a sibling of Nickeil's mother, and the two families are close. The two cousins in Shai and Nickeil, grew up together in Toronto, Canada, and even played together in high school at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy.

Western Conference finals will be a family affair this season as presumptive NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Nickeil Alexander-Walker,

Cousins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have faced each other 15 times now in the NBA — including once in a play-in game — but never in a playoff series.