Gilgeous-Alexander Secures Second Consecutive NBA MVP Title

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, has been awarded the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. This achievement makes him the 18th player to win multiple MVP awards and the 14th to do so consecutively.

In a celebratory event at the Thunder practice facility, Gilgeous-Alexander expressed gratitude to his teammates, noting the importance of their collective success in his individual accomplishments. “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,” he stated, emphasizing the team aspect of the sport.

Basketball’s obviously a team sport.

This victory marks the eighth consecutive year an international player has won the NBA MVP. The streak began in 2019 with Giannis Antetokounmpo, followed by Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and now Gilgeous-Alexander.

On Sunday, Gilgeous-Alexander gifted his teammates personalized items including golf bags, gift baskets, and expensive watches.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s continuous improvement in gameplay and leadership. In MVP voting, Jokic placed second and Victor Wembanyama ranked third. Gilgeous-Alexander secured 83 first-place votes, with Jokic and Wembanyama receiving 10 and 5 respectively.

Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham followed in fourth and fifth positions. Cunningham earned two first-place votes, a rare feat for a U.S.-born player since 2021.

This year, the top three MVP candidates were international, continuing a five-year trend:

Last season: Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Antetokounmpo
2024: Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Doncic
2023: Embiid, Jokic, Antetokounmpo
2022: Jokic, Embiid, Antetokounmpo

As the Thunder prepares to face the Spurs, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver plans to present Gilgeous-Alexander with his newest MVP trophy. Jokic, who averaged a triple-double this season, continues a trend where such players rarely secure the MVP.

Despite Jokic’s remarkable performances, including averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game, the MVP honors eluded him this year. Gilgeous-Alexander maintains his focus on team success rather than personal accolades.

The way things are run in this organization and this city, it breeds success.

Gilgeous-Alexander also won the league’s Clutch Player of the Year, showcasing his excellence in close games. He finished second in the league with 31.1 points per game, next to Doncic’s 33.5.

Known for his mid-range expertise and thoughtful responses, Gilgeous-Alexander highlights the importance of team dynamics. “We all want to see the next man win,” he explained, acknowledging the collective effort needed for success.