SGA Wins Back-to-Back NBA MVP, Joins 14-Player Club

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By lines

May 17, 2026

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the 2025-26 NBA MVP on Sunday, his second straight. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard is the 14th player in NBA history with back-to-back MVPs. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the result, with Yahoo Sports and CBS Sports confirming.

Five Takeaways From Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Second NBA MVP

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in the 2025-26 regular season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 55.3% from the field, 38.6% on threes, and 87.9% on free throws. Only Kevin Durant in 2022-23 has matched those splits at that volume, per Yahoo Sports.

The Oklahoma City Thunder finished 64-18, the best regular-season record in the NBA. Thunder forward Jalen Williams played only 33 games while recovering from a wrist injury. The Thunder roster leaned on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the bulk of the schedule.

Nikola Jokic was the previous back-to-back winner, claiming the trophy in 2021 and 2022. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished ahead of Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama in the 2026 voting. The MVP race had effectively closed by March, per multiple outlets.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now chasing a title to pair with the second MVP trophy. The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs as the favored seed. A Finals run would complete one of the most decorated single seasons in recent NBA memory.