Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been an unstoppable force for the Oklahoma City Thunder once again this season. For his exemplary performances, the 6-foot-6 guard has been crowned the 2025-26 NBA Most Valuable Player. He becomes only the 14th player in NBA history to take home the MVP award in back-to-back seasons.
NBA World Makes Feelings Clear on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Winning 2nd-Straight MVP Award
Gilgeous-Alexander beat out tough competition from fellow finalists Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić to win the MVP award. The Oklahoma City Thunder star averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 55.3% from the field during the regular season.
The NBA world was quick to react, with Bleacher Report posting a graphic of all the players who have won MVP award in back-to-back years. The exclusive list includes legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and, more recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jokić.
“The only players in NBA history with BACK-TO-BACK MVP awards. This is legend status,” Bleacher Report wrote on X.
The only players in NBA history with BACK-TO-BACK MVP awards. 🤯 🏆
This is legend status. pic.twitter.com/bdgop1jN7d
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 17, 2026
Onyx noted that Shai is only the fifth guard in NBA history to win multiple MVP awards, joining “Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Steph Curry, and Steve Nash.”
One influencer claimed that no other player stood a chance at winning the MVP award this season, considering the year Gilgeous-Alexander had with the 64-win Thunder.
“Can’t believe people thought anybody else had a chance lol,” they wrote.
Esfandiar Baraheni of The Athletic claimed that SGA is quickly establishing himself as one of the best guards of all time. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a stellar rise since joining the Thunder, including leading OKC to the NBA championship last year.
“No surprise whatsoever and completely deserving. Quickly putting together an all-time career at the guard spot,” he wrote.
No surprise whatsoever and completely deserving.
Quickly putting together an all-time career at the guard spot. https://t.co/QJ7QoAC1uw
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 17, 2026
One NBA commentator heaped praise on Gilgeous-Alexander, calling him the face of the league.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander aka The Best Player In The World. He is a winner, he is what you want and need for your franchise, he is the face of the NBA. This is what it looks like to be an NBA Superstar, his peers know he’s the best and witnessing an all time great in real time,” he wrote.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander aka The Best Player In The World
He is a winner, he is what you want and need for your franchise, he is the face of the NBA
This is what it looks like to be an NBA Superstar, his peers know he’s the best and witnessing an all time great in real time. https://t.co/ogIBpIFhRd
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 17, 2026
However, some took issue with the fact that ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania spoiled the news of Gilgeous-Alexander being named MVP by posting it hours before Amazon Prime Video was planning to make the announcement.
“So the NBA was going to announce the MVP on Amazon Prime tonight (dumb) but instead it gets broken on twitter. lol,” former NFL player and current Fox Sports broadcaster Geoff Schwartz wrote on X.
So the NBA was going to announce the MVP on Amazon Prime tonight (dumb) but instead it gets broken on twitter. lol https://t.co/mEfdFxrbu2
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) May 17, 2026
ThunderFilmRoom, a popular OKC film breakdown account, was also critical of Charania for spoiling the news.
“You are literally the worst lol. Ruined this for the second year in a row. And almost gave me a heart attack by starting the tweet with ‘Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,'” they wrote.
You are literally the worst lol. Ruined this for the second year in a row.
& almost gave me a heart attack by starting the tweet with “Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander” https://t.co/kgfX4VsO5v
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) May 17, 2026
With Gilgeous-Alexander beating out Wembanyama for the MVP award, it will be interesting to see whether that adds any tension to their hotly anticipated Western Conference Finals series.
Game 1 between the OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs is on Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
