Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially cemented himself among the greatest players in NBA history after winning his second straight MVP award for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Gilgeous-Alexander became just the 14th player ever to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards. That puts him in truly historic company.
Only some of the greatest names the league has ever seen have accomplished the feat, including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Now SGA joins that legendary list. The award comes after another dominant regular season where Gilgeous-Alexander completely controlled the NBA from start to finish. The Thunder superstar averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting an absurd 55.3% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range.
That efficiency changed NBA history. SGA became the first guard ever to average 30 points while shooting at least 55% from the field across an entire season. He also joined Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average 30 points, five assists, and 50% shooting across four consecutive seasons.
Then comes the consistency. Gilgeous-Alexander did not score below 20 points in a single game all season long. That has only happened three times in league history. The only other players to accomplish it were Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor during the early 1960s.
His impact statistically was overwhelming, too. SGA finished the season with a staggering +788 plus minus, more than 100 points better than the next closest player, Victor Wembanyama at +682.
The clutch numbers were equally dominant. He finished first in clutch points per game (6.5), first in total clutch points (175), and first in 20-point games (82). He also ranked second in total points (2,148), second in points per game (31.1), second in 30-point games (43), and third in 40-point games (8).
On top of that, he also won Clutch Player of the Year. The MVP now places him in legendary company among guards. Only Magic, Jordan, Nash, and Curry had previously won back-to-back MVPs as guards before SGA joined the group.
What separated him from everybody else was efficiency combined with winning.
Oklahoma City finished as the best team in basketball again with a 64-18 record, while SGA remained the engine behind everything they did offensively. His ability to dominate games without relying heavily on three-point volume or isolation spam has made him one of the most unique offensive superstars in modern NBA history.
And now he is backing it up in the playoffs, too. The Thunder have looked unstoppable throughout the postseason, sweeping both of their first two opponents, including a dominant second-round destruction of the Los Angeles Lakers. Oklahoma City finished the season with a perfect 18-0 record against California teams, including 8-0 against the Lakers alone.
And he is still dominating in the playoffs. SGA has been phenomenal during the playoff run as well, averaging 29.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 51.4% from the field. But what makes this Thunder team terrifying is not only the talent.
It is the mentality. After sweeping the Lakers, Gilgeous Alexander posted a chilling message on Instagram that immediately went viral.
“I’m not thinking about how I could’ve ate more, I’m thinking about how I could win eight more.”
That statement perfectly sums up the Thunder right now.
They are no longer satisfied with playoff appearances or regular-season awards. They are chasing championships and potentially building the NBA’s next dynasty. Earlier during the playoffs, SGA even publicly embraced sacrificing personal statistics if it helped Oklahoma City win more games. That mindset has completely transformed the Thunder into the most dangerous team in basketball because there is no ego battle anywhere inside the roster.
Everybody understands the mission. The Thunder are elite defensively, deep offensively, loaded with athleticism, and terrifying in transition. They can beat teams in almost every style imaginable, and Gilgeous Alexander remains the calm superstar controlling everything in the middle of the chaos.
Now he has another MVP trophy beside his name. And at just 27 years old, it feels like he is only getting started.
