Sri Lanka
USA
Canada
India
UK
UAE
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the standout guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, has been crowned the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row, the league confirmed on Sunday.
The announcement was made during a televised broadcast, shortly after reports of his win surfaced earlier in the day.
Fresh off leading the Thunder to an NBA championship last season—where he also earned Finals MVP honors—Gilgeous-Alexander credited his teammates for playing a crucial role in his continued success. He finished ahead of Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in the voting.
Speaking after the announcement, the Canadian star highlighted the importance of teamwork and resilience over the course of a demanding NBA season.
He emphasized that consistency, support from teammates, and maintaining enjoyment in the game were key factors behind his repeat achievement. Despite the pressures and challenges, he said the camaraderie within the squad helped keep the spirit of the game alive.
Gilgeous-Alexander secured a dominant victory in the MVP race, receiving 83 first-place votes from a panel of around 100 media members, finishing with 939 total points. Jokic placed second, while Wembanyama came in third.
At 27, Gilgeous-Alexander now joins an elite group of just 14 players in NBA history to win the MVP award in consecutive seasons. The last player to accomplish the feat was Jokic in 2021 and 2022, while Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved it in 2019 and 2020.
Other legends who have earned back-to-back MVP honors include Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.
His latest MVP recognition follows another exceptional season, during which he averaged 31.1 points and 6.6 assists per game. His performances powered Oklahoma City to a league-best 64–18 record, securing the top seed in the Western Conference.
The award also continues a recent trend of international players dominating the MVP category, with the last American winner being James Harden in 2018.
Looking ahead, the Thunder are set to face the Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the challenge posed by San Antonio, noting their consistency throughout the season.
He stressed that his team’s focus remains on executing their style of play at the highest level, believing that strong performances will ultimately determine the outcome.
