Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins NBA MVP for Second Consecutive Year

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second year running. His achievement marks him as the 18th player to win multiple MVP awards and the 14th to do so consecutively.

During a celebration at the Thunder practice facility, surrounded by teammates donned in Burberry trench coats—a gift from the now two-time MVP—Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized the importance of teamwork. He stated, “All the numbers, all the accolades, everything that I do on the court, if we won 10 games I wouldn’t be in this conversation. So, thank you guys so much. I love you guys.”

This MVP win extends a streak of international players claiming the award. The sequence began with Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece in 2019 and 2020. Nikola Jokic from Serbia followed in 2021 and 2022, then Joel Embiid, originally from Cameroon, in 2023. Jokic reclaimed the title in 2024, and now Gilgeous-Alexander, a Canadian, has secured it in 2025 and 2026.

In addition to the trench coats, Gilgeous-Alexander presented his teammates with personalized golf bags, gift baskets, and expensive watches during the celebration.

“Who he is has never changed,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault commented, highlighting the player’s growth in leadership and gameplay.

Gilgeous-Alexander received 83 out of 100 first-place votes, while Nikola Jokic came in second with 10 votes and Victor Wembanyama from San Antonio was third with five votes.

This year continues a five-year trend of international players filling the top three MVP voting spots. Previous years saw Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, and Luka Doncic from Slovenia competing closely.

Despite Jokic averaging a triple-double this season—27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game—he did not win the MVP. This pattern aligns with historical trends, as players like Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson also missed MVP wins despite similar feats.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who was also named Clutch Player of the Year by a significant margin, insists his focus is on team success, not individual accolades. He scored prominently this season, ranking second in points per game with 31.1, right behind Doncic.

The MVP award follows other significant achievements for Gilgeous-Alexander, contributing to Oklahoma City’s continued success under a model that emphasizes teamwork and unity. He credits his surroundings, stating, “As an NBA player, you have no control over other grown men in this business and I’m just lucky enough to be surrounded by great human beings.”

The Thunder will face the Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, where Gilgeous-Alexander will be officially presented with the MVP trophy by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.