Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the standout guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, has secured his second successive NBA Most Valuable Player accolade, as revealed by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
This official revelation is slated to occur prior to the Sunday evening Game 7 matchup featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, broadcast on Amazon Prime Video at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. This esteemed recognition arrives just one day before the Thunder commence their Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
At 27 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander marks the fourteenth individual in the league’s annals to achieve consecutive MVP victories.
The most recent athlete to claim successive MVP titles was Nikola Jokić, the center for the Denver Nuggets, who received the recognition for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Before Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks earned the distinction for the two seasons immediately preceding.
From the year 2000 onwards, those who have clinched successive MVP honors comprise Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James (achieving this feat on two occasions), and Stephen Curry.
With their eminent point guard at the helm, the Thunder concluded the season with a 64-18 standing, securing the premier record in the NBA for the second consecutive year. Gilgeous-Alexander posted an average of 31.1 points, placing him second league-wide, just behind Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers (33.5). Furthermore, he spearheaded the Thunder with 6.6 assists, complementing his 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest, all while achieving a 39% success rate from beyond the arc.
SGA’s offensive contribution was crucial for the Thunder this year
It can be contended that Gilgeous-Alexander bore an amplified offensive responsibility throughout this season, particularly as Jalen Williams was restricted to participating in merely 33 games due to persistent hamstring issues. Additionally, Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein each sat out at least 25 contests during the current season.
This undoubtedly played a role in Gilgeous-Alexander establishing a new NBA milestone, tallying 127 consecutive matches with 20 or more points, a streak commencing in 2024. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Wilt Chamberlain between 1961 and 1963.
This season, he notched 40 or more points in seven separate contests, with a notable peak of 55 points—a personal best—during a 141-135 double-overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers in only Oklahoma City’s second game of the current campaign.
Gilgeous-Alexander prevails over Jokić for the MVP once more
While the NBA’s Most Valuable Player honor pertains to regular-season performance, Gilgeous-Alexander has sustained his high level of play into the postseason. He averages 29.1 points per game, marginally trailing Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons (29.3). Oklahoma City remains undefeated in the 2025-26 playoffs, having decisively won their initial two series against the Phoenix Suns and the Lakers.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić stood among the prime contenders for this season’s MVP title, alongside Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
Jokić, aged 31, recorded an average of 27.7 points, concurrently pacing the NBA with 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per contest. He achieved the distinction of being the first athlete to spearhead the league in these two specific statistical metrics within a single season.
Wembanyama, 22 years old, tallied 25 points per game, alongside averages of 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He spearheaded the NBA in blocked shots, averaging 3.1 per game, a performance that secured him the Defensive Player of the Year award through a unanimous decision.
Gilgeous-Alexander has now outperformed the Nuggets’ primary big man for the second consecutive year. Given his current age and the ongoing achievements of the Thunder, the prospect of him ultimately equalling Jokić’s record with a third MVP trophy appears quite feasible. However, both Jokić and Wembanyama are expected to pose formidable challenges.
