‘It’s special’: Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeats as NBA MVP

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been voted the NBA Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, the league announced Sunday night, May 17 (Monday, May 18, Manila time).

Gilgeous-Alexander is the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs. He is the first player to win consecutive MVP awards since Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and the first guard to win consecutive MVPs since Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

“It’s special,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of having two MVPs. “Not really for me personally but more so for the city and organization.”

Gilgeous-Alexander received 83 first-place votes and won handily with 939 points in balloting by a panel of 100 voters who cover the NBA.

Jokic received 10 first-place votes and finished second in the balloting with 634 points. Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was third with 589 points and five first-place votes.

Signed to a four-year, $273.3 million super maximum contract extension in the offseason, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 68 games (all starts) this season as Oklahoma City went 64-18 and compiled the best record in the NBA.

Not surprisingly, the humble Gilgeous-Alexander passed on the credit to the other Oklahoma City players.

“Thank you guys so much for setting screens, to rebounding when I miss, to passing me the ball even though I don’t pass you the ball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Everything you guys do to make me a better player out there, I really appreciate you guys.”

Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player since legendary Wilt Chamberlain (1963-64) to score 20-plus points in every regular-season game, with a minimum of 50 games played. He also broke Chamberlain’s record of 126 straight 20-plus point efforts and his streak stands at 140 entering next season.

Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, is averaging 25.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 boards in 530 career games (521 starts) with the Los Angeles Clippers (2018-19) and Thunder. He was acquired from Los Angeles in 2019 as part of many assets Oklahoma City received in the Paul George deal.

The guard led the Thunder to their first NBA championship last year. 

Aiming for back-to-back titles, Oklahoma City will open play in the Western Conference final on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs.

“The way things are run in this organization and this city, it breeds success,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, referring to Oklahoma City as a second home. “I’m just lucky to end up here.”

Gilgeous-Alexander joins Steve Nash as the only Canadians to earn the NBA MVP award. Nash also won twice, in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

The other players to win at least two MVP awards are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six times), Bill Russell (five), Michael Jordan (five), Wilt Chamberlain (four), LeBron James (four), Larry Bird (three), Magic Johnson (three), Moses Malone (three), Bob Pettit (two), Karl Malone (two), Tim Duncan (two), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (two).

Kevin Durant (2013-14 season) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17) also won MVPs while wearing Thunder uniforms.

“There’s been four MVP (awards) in the last 12 years to come through this building,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I don’t think that’s coincidence. There’s a reason why you have success when you come through this program.”

Jokic, a three-time MVP, averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in 65 regular-season games (all starts).

Wembanyama, who unanimously won Defensive Player of the Year honors, averaged a career-best 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds and led the league with 3.1 blocks per game.

NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers finished fourth in the voting (250 points), Cade Cunningham (117) of the Detroit Pistons was fifth, and Jaylen Brown (89) of the Boston Celtics placed sixth. – Rappler.com