Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Madrid vacation with Vinícius Júnior

Alberto P. Sierra SHAI-VINI An NBA-soccer bromance

[{"selector":"#anim-4a5e326e-e145-4c7e-9327-403dc8ba4490","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.40015%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5a53f6a-38c3-4e51-af23-ed5de75fed78 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.522926588825236%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"fill":"both"}] NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, is one of the highest-profile tourists to visit Madrid of late.

[{"selector":"#anim-f2cce298-f5e9-4f1f-abab-08f18e8bb311","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51f9a39a-e279-49be-8033-6fcf6a096d1d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1.941747572815534)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"forwards"}] This has been Gilgeous-Alexander’s best ever season as a basketball player: he was an All-Star and made the All-NBA First Team.

[{"selector":"#anim-4a74bcaf-0b16-4c61-8e98-8498ecde2192","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f1aeea1-5a22-4e5c-aaa3-6a3a77890bc0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-6.735717961914559%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] The guard averaged more than 30 points, five assists and four rebounds, but the Thunder missed out on a place in the NBA playoffs.

[{"selector":"#anim-f1ee6408-82a2-4e0c-ba19-bfaf64ca4bc8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.40015%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b60acb49-62e8-44fa-b9b3-7e20bdeb42a1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.033980678341304e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] With no postseason commitments keeping him busy, Gilgeous-Alexander took the chance to visit Spain and spend a few days with a good friend.

[{"selector":"#anim-75fe2bb1-2a83-4db0-b5a8-59a99020df3e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b813cba-1c79-4a96-a159-a489441e353c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(18.10072445611351%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] That pal is none other than one of LaLiga’s ‘All Stars’: Vinícius Júnior. The Real Madrid winger showed the Canadian around the city.

[{"selector":"#anim-6dae66b9-9585-4e68-9058-c28428b89204","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98aa7e8d-fc9b-45e1-a57e-a4edea649544 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.124439242347652%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Gilgeous-Alexander travelled to the Spanish capital with his partner, Hailey Summers, a former college basketball player.

[{"selector":"#anim-8d98a644-f5fc-4637-a219-dd7f1e5ea44d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 138.70736%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ccd3936-a6ce-4952-a11a-3b9c9a90167b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 16.66666666666667%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] At Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex, Gilgeous-Alexander and Vinícius each tried their hand at the other’s sport.

[{"selector":"#anim-130c2ae0-e2c1-484a-a69c-1c1c152bb225","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 138.70736%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a57cb5f6-c3f6-4536-9209-9979e27cad97 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.033980678341304e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Vinícius showed off his basketball skills out on the court with Shai - a hoops session that both shared on their social-media accounts.

[{"selector":"#anim-820ea5d3-9775-4ccd-9dbe-ad1d7b230e6a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45560820-33e8-46e1-9906-2a86aa0c72b1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.033980678341304e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] On the soccer field, meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander could be seen beating Vinícius from the penalty spot.

[{"selector":"#anim-479a8459-fd86-49ff-84f5-05e91dbe2219","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eba7fee2-85c9-4b50-b88c-76d5dfa44fbc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.369608338171872%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] The pair also enjoyed some of the finest cuisine on offer in Madrid, in addition to taking in a Real Madrid basketball game together.

[{"selector":"#anim-c613bc21-d0a2-40c4-b13f-3eab7021b7b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6963896e-30b5-47e4-bbc5-f9e1480d62a2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-43.20666023970555%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] They were spotted at the WiZink Center for Real Madrid’s comeback win in a crunch EuroLeague clash with Serbian team Partizan.

[{"selector":"#anim-3ec41160-5f97-42c7-ac1a-e1e772a7fbe8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9235dc8b-7678-4205-bdf7-3b58c7a376f0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 26.685310252102102%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Later, Gilgeous-Alexander was Vinícius’ guest for the Madrid soccer side’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City.

[{"selector":"#anim-264e4c48-b6ae-43c3-9d4a-5293fdae24f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a954f0cf-d1b7-46a3-983c-44b10bb5d87c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 36.510727210457496%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] The Oklahoma player got the full VIP treatment, walking the Bernabéu turf and meeting other members of Los Blancos’ first-team squad.

[{"selector":"#anim-d3a52fd8-9b00-4614-bdb0-0f5f6ac80795","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b359be81-b3aa-46af-91e3-bc6c9f255efb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-11.910907554411455%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] On Tuesday, Gilgeous-Alexander shared photos on social media, with Vini responding: “My brother.” A full-on NBA-Real Madrid bromance.