Key Takeaways:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for the second consecutive season, becoming the 14th player to achieve back-to-back wins
- International players finished first, second, and third in MVP voting for the fifth straight year, with Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama as the latest top trio
- Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama will meet tonight as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs begin their Western Conference Finals series
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Back-to-Back Triumph
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was awarded the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player accolade on Sunday, marking his second successive triumph. He joins a select group as the 18th player to have earned at least two MVP awards and only the 14th to have captured the honour in consecutive seasons.
Providing insight into the consistency of Gilgeous-Alexander’s approach, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said, “Who he is has never changed. 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.”
SGA.
MVP.
B2B.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the @Kia NBA MVP for the second-consecutive season and becomes the 14th back-to-back winner in NBA history! pic.twitter.com/vku1CtcZNj
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2026
International Talent Shines in MVP Voting
The Canadian’s latest victory extends to eight the run of MVP winners born outside the United States. This sequence began with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) in 2019 and 2020, followed by Nikola Jokic (Serbia) for Denver in 2021 and 2022, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (Cameroon) in 2023, then Jokic once more in 2024.
With Gilgeous-Alexander claiming the MVP award for both 2025 and 2026, the international presence at the NBA’s summit remains clear. Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick commented, “Shai’s so good at creating separation when he’s able to play 1-on-1. He’s just really hard to stop, for any defender.”
This marks the fifth consecutive season in which the top three finishers in MVP voting have all been international players. The 2026 order comprised Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, and San Antonio’s French prodigy Victor Wembanyama. The pattern has been consistent across recent years:
| Year | MVP 1st | MVP 2nd | MVP 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Nikola Jokic | Victor Wembanyama |
| 2025 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Nikola Jokic | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2024 | Nikola Jokic | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Luka Doncic |
| 2023 | Joel Embiid | Nikola Jokic | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2022 | Nikola Jokic | Joel Embiid | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
Upcoming Western Conference Finals and Award Ceremony
Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama are set to clash on Monday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is scheduled to be in attendance to present Gilgeous-Alexander with the MVP trophy for the third time in just 12 months – following last May’s MVP recognition, last June’s NBA Finals MVP, and now this latest distinction.
Achievements and Statistical Highlights
This MVP honour marks Gilgeous-Alexander’s second major individual award of the season, as he was also overwhelmingly voted the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year – securing 96 out of 100 first-place votes in recognition of his performances during the closing stages of tightly contested matches.
The Thunder star ranked second in scoring league-wide with 31.1 points per game, trailing only Luka Doncic’s 33.5-point average. Gilgeous-Alexander also extended his NBA-record streak of consecutive regular season games with at least 20 points to 140, a run that will continue into the following season.
Known for his strong mid-range play, skill at drawing fouls, and calm demeanour, Gilgeous-Alexander remains focused under pressure. “It just gives me the best chance to make the right decision on the next play, which is what’s most important,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’ve noticed throughout my career and through personal experiences that emotions only get in the way of critical and smart thinking – especially in those moments when I want to get the job done the most. I try to put my emotions aside and stay locked in on what’s present and what matters most.”
Jokic and the Triple-Double Paradox
Nikola Jokic’s remarkable season, during which he averaged a triple-double with 27.7 points, a league-leading 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game, was not enough to secure the MVP award. This continues a peculiar trend, as players who have averaged a triple-double across a season seldom go on to claim MVP honours. Russell Westbrook accomplished the feat four times, with only a single MVP win, while Oscar Robertson did not claim the award in 1961-62 despite achieving a triple-double season. Jokic himself has now averaged a triple-double twice without MVP recognition in those campaigns, though he holds three MVP awards overall.
Notably, Stephen Curry was the last American-born player to finish in the top three of MVP voting, achieving third place in 2021 behind Jokic and Embiid. The most recent U.S. winner was James Harden in 2018, who has since represented four different franchises.
