Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins Back-to-Back NBA MVP Awards/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA MVP award for the second straight season. The reigning NBA Finals MVP became the 14th player in league history to earn consecutive MVP honors. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to another dominant season while continuing the NBA’s international MVP streak.
NBA MVP 2026 Quick Looks
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his second consecutive NBA MVP award
- The Thunder star received 83 first-place votes
- Nikola Jokic finished second in MVP voting
- Victor Wembanyama placed third
- Gilgeous-Alexander became the 14th back-to-back MVP winner
- The Thunder entered the playoffs as reigning NBA champions
- SGA gifted teammates luxury watches and Burberry trench coats
- International players swept the top three MVP spots again
- Gilgeous-Alexander also won Clutch Player of the Year
- Oklahoma City opened the Western Conference finals against San Antonio
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins Second Straight NBA MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added another historic achievement to his rapidly growing NBA legacy after winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award for the second consecutive season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar became the 14th player in NBA history to earn back-to-back MVP honors and the 18th overall to win the award at least twice.
The announcement capped another remarkable season for Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the defending NBA champion Thunder to one of the league’s best records while continuing his rise as one of basketball’s elite players.
“Basketball’s obviously a team sport,” Gilgeous-Alexander said during a celebration with teammates at the Thunder practice facility. “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.”
Thunder Star Continues International MVP Trend
Gilgeous-Alexander’s victory extended a remarkable trend in NBA history, marking the eighth consecutive season that the MVP award went to a player born outside the United States.
The streak began with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, born in Greece to Nigerian parents, who won the award in 2019 and 2020.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic from Serbia captured the honor in 2021, 2022, and 2024, while Joel Embiid, born in Cameroon and later becoming a U.S. citizen, won in 2023.
Now, Gilgeous-Alexander, the Canadian-born Thunder guard known throughout the NBA as “SGA,” has secured the award in both 2025 and 2026.
International players also finished first, second, and third in MVP voting for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting the league’s increasingly global talent pool.
MVP Voting Results Highlight Dominance
Gilgeous-Alexander dominated the final MVP voting results, receiving 83 out of 100 possible first-place votes.
Nikola Jokic finished second after another statistically dominant season, while San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama placed third.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic finished fourth, and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham came in fifth. Cunningham also received two first-place votes, becoming the first U.S.-born player to earn a first-place MVP vote since 2021.
Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics finished sixthwhile Kawhi Leonard and Donovan Mitchell tied for seventh place in the voting.
The results further solidified Gilgeous-Alexander’s standing as the clear face of the NBA’s current championship powerhouse.
SGA Rewards Teammates After MVP Win
Gilgeous-Alexander celebrated the achievement by showering teammates with expensive gifts during the team gathering.
The two-time MVP presented teammates with Burberry trench coats, personalized golf bags, luxury gift baskets, and high-end watches.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised the superstar’s leadership and character while reflecting on his continued development both on and off the court.
“Who he is has never changed,” Daigneault said. “I think he’s touched up the edges on his game and on his leadership and on his perspective, just like anybody else that’s coming of age.”
The gesture reinforced Gilgeous-Alexander’s reputation as a respected leader inside one of the NBA’s strongest locker rooms.
Statistical Excellence Drives MVP Campaign
Although Gilgeous-Alexander insists he prioritizes team success over individual accolades, his numbers once again placed him among the league’s most dominant players.
He averaged 31.1 points per game this season, ranking second in the NBA behind Luka Doncic.
The Thunder guard also extended his NBA-record streak of regular-season games scoring at least 20 points to 140 consecutive games.
His calm playing style, elite mid-range scoring, and ability to perform in crucial moments helped separate him from the competition throughout the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander also won the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year award by an overwhelming margin, earning 96 of 100 first-place votes.
The award recognized his exceptional performances during the final moments of close games.
Jokic’s Historic Season Falls Short
Nikola Jokic delivered one of the greatest statistical seasons in NBA history but still finished behind Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP voting.
The Denver Nuggets star averaged 27.7 points, a league-leading 12.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.7 assists per game, recording another full-season triple-double average.
Despite the historic numbers, Jokic continued a surprising trend in NBA history where players averaging triple-doubles often fail to win MVP awards.
Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double four separate times but captured MVP honors only once during those seasons. Oscar Robertson also averaged a triple-double in 1961-62 without winning the award.
Jokic himself has now averaged a triple-double twice without earning MVP recognition in either season.
Thunder Continue Championship Pursuit
Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP announcement came just before Oklahoma City opened the Western Conference finals against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to formally present Gilgeous-Alexander with the MVP trophy during the playoff series.
It marks the third major trophy presentation for SGA within the past year after previously winning both the regular-season MVP and NBA Finals MVP awards.
“The way things are run in this organization and this city, it breeds success,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s no coincidence.”
He added: “Some of it is just luck. 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.”
As Oklahoma City continues its pursuit of another NBA championship, Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership and consistency remain central to the Thunder’s success.
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