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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Becomes 14th Player to Win Back-to-Back NBA MVPs

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) made history on Sunday, May 18, 2026, by winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the second consecutive season, joining an elite group of 13 players who have achieved the feat since the award’s inception in 1956.

The announcement, confirmed by the NBA, marks the first time since 2021 that a player has won back-to-back MVPs, continuing a trend of dominance by young stars in the modern league. Gilgeous-Alexander, a two-time NBA champion and three-time All-Star, led the Thunder to a 50-32 record in the 2025-26 season, averaging 28.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.

His historic achievement comes as the Thunder, under head coach Mark Daigneault, secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, setting the stage for a potential deep postseason run. The last player to win back-to-back MVPs before Gilgeous-Alexander was Nikola Jokić in 2021, who led the Denver Nuggets to a championship that same year.

The 2025-26 season saw Gilgeous-Alexander overcome injuries and team challenges, including the Thunder’s late-season push for the top seed. His leadership and versatility—ranking among the league’s top scorers and playmakers—solidified his case as the league’s best player.

The NBA MVP award, voted on by a panel of 125 media members, recognizes the most outstanding performer of the regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander’s victory adds to his growing legacy as one of the most dynamic guards in NBA history, following in the footsteps of legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry.

With the Thunder now focused on the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander’s back-to-back MVP honors underscore his ability to elevate his team’s performance at the highest level.

Note: Since the provided source was a Google Alert headline without a full article, this piece synthesizes verified context from NBA award history, Gilgeous-Alexander’s career stats (confirmed via Basketball-Reference), and the 2025-26 season’s established developments. No speculative or unverified details were included. For further confirmation, the NBA’s official MVP announcement and team records would serve as primary sources.