Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins NBA MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA MVP on Wednesday, which many had anticipated.
When news broke via ESPN’s Shams Charania about the Oklahoma City star guard’s award, Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t resist adding a bit of humor.
“What?” Antetokounmpo tweeted after hearing the announcement, as he himself finished third in the voting.
Nikola Jokic was the runner-up in the vote.
It seems Antetokounmpo was likely just joking around; Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential win had been expected for months. It was a stark contrast to a time when Luka Doncic was being discussed in trade rumors that involved multiple teams.
The case for Gilgeous-Alexander was quite straightforward. He played a pivotal role for the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading the team to the top record this season and achieving the highest victory margins in the league. Plus, he also secured the scoring title.
Clearly, it was a year deserving of an MVP title.
His recognition as the NBA’s most valuable player was historic. This marked the first time a player born outside the U.S. claimed the MVP award, extending what has now become a remarkable trend over the past seven years.
“You just need to work hard all season, try not to think about it, play basketball and improve, focusing on winning games,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated upon the announcement. “But as a competitor and a kid who dreams of the game, it’s always in the back of your mind.”
The vote ended up being a close race. Gilgeous-Alexander received 29 first-place votes, while Jokic garnered the same number, along with 71 second-place votes.
Antetokounmpo landed in third place, garnering 88 out of 100 potential votes for that position.
Drafted as the 11th pick in 2018, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and five rebounds per game this season. His efforts helped the Thunder achieve an impressive 68-14 record, with an average victory margin of 12.9 points—the largest in league history.
He will become just the second Canadian to win the MVP, following Steve Nash, who won the award twice.
“His value lies in his confidence,” said Oklahoma City’s Kenrich Williams about Gilgeous-Alexander. “The belief he has in himself reflects in all of us, including the coach.”
Jokic, who has previously won MVP three times in the last four seasons, was again a formidable contender. He averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game this season and was the first center to average a triple-double while consistently ranking among the top three in these categories throughout the year.
“He’s a unique player,” Jokic remarked about Gilgeous-Alexander after the Thunder eliminated the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. “His shot choices and abilities are exceptional; he’s always at the right place.”
Antetokounmpo, who was third, averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He has also initiated this trend of international players winning the MVP award.
Gilgeous-Alexander, originally from Ontario, now seems set to carry the MVP flag forward. He came in fifth in the voting two years ago and felt energized to rewrite his narrative this season.
“The voters change each year, and what that meant last year is simply that more people thought I shouldn’t win compared to this year,” he explained. “I aimed to alter that perception.”
In the voting results, Boston’s Jason Tatum placed fourth, while Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell was fifth, and LeBron James from the Lakers came in sixth.
Cade Cunningham from Detroit and Anthony Edwards from Minnesota tied for seventh, while Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was ninth.
The MVP award, along with other honors, was determined by an international panel of 100 writers and broadcasters closely covering the league.
Several other awards have also been announced, including Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson for Coach of the Year, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels as Most Improved Player, and Rookie of the Year for San Antonio’s Stefon Castle, among others.
