Gilgeous-Alexander retains NBA MVP as Western Conference finals loom
With 83 first-place votes, the Thunder star joins an elite group of 14 players, but his historical standing may hinge on the upcoming series against Victor Wembanyama.
The National Basketball Association has confirmed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the Most Valuable Player for the 2025-26 season, securing his second consecutive award. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard received 83 of 100 first-place votes, finishing ahead of finalists Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama. This achievement makes Gilgeous-Alexander the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVP honours, joining a roster that includes Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry.
The accolade follows a period of significant institutional stability for the Thunder, who have won 132 games across the previous two campaigns. Gilgeous-Alexander’s statistical profile has been marked by high efficiency; he has scored more total points than Luka Dončić this season and recorded higher effective field goal percentages in 30-point-per-game seasons than all players except Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Furthermore, he is the only guard to win an MVP with fewer turnovers per possession than Jordan.
Despite these individual metrics, the broader context of his legacy remains under scrutiny. Historical analysis suggests a distinction between players who define an era and those who serve as transitional figures. With Jokić’s dominance concluding and Wembanyama projected as the next potential hegemon, Gilgeous-Alexander faces a critical juncture. The upcoming Western Conference finals against Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs may determine whether he establishes a sustained period of dominance or is remembered as a bridge between Jokić and the next generation.
The narrative surrounding the award has already been influenced by playoff dynamics, as seen in previous years where MVP winners were overshadowed by those who failed to secure championships. Gilgeous-Alexander’s first title run was viewed by some as lacking the definitive authority of a baton-passing moment, partly due to injuries to teammates and a perceived lack of casual fan popularity. However, his consistency remains evident, with no game scoring fewer than 20 points across nearly two full regular seasons.
As the Thunder prepare to face the Spurs, the series carries weight beyond standard playoff implications. Wembanyama, who openly campaigned for the MVP award, will seek to challenge Gilgeous-Alexander’s supremacy. The outcome of this series will likely shape how Gilgeous-Alexander’s two trophies are remembered, determining if he secures his own era or becomes a notable footnote in the league’s shifting power structure.
