Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2nd consecutive MVP award

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the MVP of the 2025-26 season Sunday.

Steve Nash, the only other Canadian to ever claim the award, announced the Thunder star as the winner during Prime Video's pregame show ahead of Game 7 between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The award marks the second consecutive MVP for Gilgeous-Alexander, who won last year before leading the Thunder to their first title since relocating to Oklahoma City. He's the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs.

Gilgeous-Alexander beat out Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama for the honor.

This is the third consecutive season in which both Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander were finalists. Jokic's run as a finalist dates back to his first of three MVP wins in 2020-21.

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points during the 2025-26 regular season, trailing only Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic (33.5 points) for the scoring title.

The Kentucky product's second MVP also extends the NBA's streak of international winners to eight straight seasons. An American-born player hasn't captured the league's top individual prize since James Harden did so in 2018. Gilgeous-Alexander is the third player since then to win the award in back-to-back years, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jokic.