Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins second straight MVP

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award on Sunday, giving the Oklahoma City Thunder guard his second straight MVP. The NBA said Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, is the 14th player to win the award in consecutive seasons and the 18th to win at least two MVPs overall. (nba.com) The May 17 announcement came nearly one year after Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP on May 21, 2025. (nba.com) NBA.com said the Canadian guard also became only the 16th player to win multiple MVP honors since the award began in the 1955-56 season. (nba.com) The award arrives with Oklahoma City back in the Western Conference finals. NBA.com said the Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, will face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 on Monday night in Oklahoma City. ### How strong was Gilgeous-Alexander’s regular season? Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.40 steals in 68 games, according to the Thunder and NBA.com. (nba.com) The Thunder said he shot 55.3% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range in 33.2 minutes per game. NBA.com said Gilgeous-Alexander became the first guard in league history to average more than 30 points while shooting better than 55% from the field. (nba.com) The league also said he posted 43 games with at least 30 points, eight games with at least 40 points and one 50-point game this season. (nba.com) March 12 was another marker in his season. NBA.com said Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain’s long-standing record for consecutive 20-point games that night against Boston, and extended the streak to 140 through the end of the regular season. (nba.com) ### Who did he beat for the award? Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs were the other finalists, according to NBA.com’s awards page. NBA.com also said international players finished 1-2-3 in MVP balloting for the fifth consecutive season. (nba.com) The 2025-26 MVP race was close enough that all three contenders spent time atop NBA.com’s weekly MVP Ladder. In its final April 17 ranking, NBA.com placed Gilgeous-Alexander first, citing his scoring, efficiency, durability and Oklahoma City’s league-best record. (nba.com) ### What did team and league figures say? Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Gilgeous-Alexander’s core approach had stayed the same even as his game evolved. “Who he is has never changed,” Daigneault said, according to the Associated Press on NBA.com. Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick described the scoring skill that has defined Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise. “Shai’s so good at creating separation when he’s able to play 1-on-1,” Redick said. “He’s just really hard to stop, for any defender.” (nba.com) ### How much more did he add beyond MVP? (nba.com) The NBA had already named Gilgeous-Alexander the 2025-26 Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year on April 21. NBA.com said the MVP is his second major individual award this season. NBA.com’s statistical breakdown said Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with 175 total clutch points. (nba.com) The Thunder finished 64-18, the best record in the NBA and the second-most wins in franchise history, according to the team. ### When does the next public moment happen? (nba.com) Monday night is the next scheduled milestone. NBA.com said Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to present Gilgeous-Alexander with the Michael Jordan Trophy before or during Game 1 of the Western Conference finals between Oklahoma City and San Antonio. (pr.nba.com) The May 18 NBA awards roundup listed Gilgeous-Alexander as the MVP winner and Wembanyama as one of the finalists he will now face in the conference finals. Game 1 is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, according to NBA.com. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) (nba.com 3)