NBA: Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeats as NBA MVP

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been voted the NBA Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, the league announced Sunday night, cementing his status as one of the premier players in the game today.

Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the 14th player in league history to capture back-to-back MVP awards. He is the first player to achieve the feat since Nikola Jokic did so in the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, and the first guard to repeat as MVP since Stephen Curry in 2014–15 and 2015–16.

“It’s special,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Not really for me personally, but more so for the city and organization.”

The Canadian star received 83 first-place votes and finished with 939 points in voting conducted by a 100-member media panel that covers the NBA. Jokic placed second with 10 first-place votes and 634 points, while Victor Wembanyama finished third with 589 points and five first-place votes.

Signed to a four-year, $273.3 million supermax extension in the offseason, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered another dominant campaign. He averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds across 68 games, helping Oklahoma City Thunder finish 64–18 with the best record in the league.

Despite the individual honor, Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized team success.

“Thank you guys so much for setting screens, for rebounding when I miss, for passing me the ball even though I don’t pass you the ball,” he said. “Everything you guys do to make me a better player out there, I really appreciate you guys.”

The guard also made history with his scoring consistency, becoming the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in the 1963–64 season to score at least 20 points in every regular-season game (minimum 50 games played). He also broke Chamberlain’s record of 126 consecutive 20-plus-point games, extending the streak to 140 entering next season.

Now 27, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 25.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds over 530 career games (521 starts) with the Los Angeles Clippers and Thunder. He was acquired by Oklahoma City in 2019 as part of the trade package involving Paul George, a move that reshaped the franchise’s future.

He previously led the Thunder to their first NBA championship last season, and the team is now aiming for back-to-back titles as it prepares for the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

“The way things are run in this organization and this city, it breeds success,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’m just lucky to end up here.”

With his second MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander joins Steve Nash as the only Canadian players to win the award. Nash also captured back-to-back MVP honors in 2004–05 and 2005–06 with the Phoenix Suns.

Only a select group of players have won multiple MVPs, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Bill Russell (five), Michael Jordan (five), Wilt Chamberlain (four), LeBron James (four), Larry Bird (three), Magic Johnson (three), Moses Malone (three), Bob Pettit (two), Karl Malone (two), Tim Duncan (two), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (two).

Other recent MVP winners connected to Oklahoma City include Kevin Durant (2013–14) and Russell Westbrook (2016–17), both of whom earned the award while playing for the Thunder.

“There’s been four MVPs in the last 12 years to come through this building,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I don’t think that’s a coincidence. There’s a reason why you have success when you come through this program.”

Jokic, a three-time MVP, averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in 65 games this season. Wembanyama, who also earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, posted 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game.

Luka Doncic, the NBA scoring champion, finished fourth in MVP voting, followed by Cade Cunningham in fifth and Jaylen Brown in sixth.

With another MVP secured and championship expectations rising, Gilgeous-Alexander continues to define a new era for Oklahoma City basketball. -Field Level Media/Reuters