At 27 years old, Canadian point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again won the most important recognition of the regular season in the NBA. The Oklahoma City Thunder star was awarded this Sunday as Most Valuable Player (MVP), repeating the award achieved in the previous campaign and establishing himself as one of the most decisive figures in the championship.

With this new award, the guard became the 14th player in league history to win the MVP in consecutive seasons. The last to achieve this had been Nikola Jokić, who won the trophy in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 campaigns.

Last year, Shai was also named MVP of the 2025 Finals after his team's championship against the Indiana Pacers.

Individual dominance and a Thunder launched into the playoffs

Gilgeous-Alexander's numbers support the decision. During the 2025-2026 season, he averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, in addition to extending his streak of regular season games scoring at least 20 points to 140.

His coach, Mark Daigneault, highlighted his growth without altering his essence: "Who he is has never changed. I think he has polished details in his game, in his leadership and in his perspective, as happens to anyone who matures."

Other teams have also highlighted his impact. Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said: "Shai is very good at creating separation when he can play one-on-one. It's really very difficult for any defender to stop him."

The Thunder are already in the Western Conference finals after sweeping the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the first two rounds. Their next rival will be the San Antonio Spurs.

In addition to the MVP, the Canadian also received the Most Decisive Player of the Year award this season, adding 96 out of 100 possible votes. His ability to resolve close games has been one of the most notable features of his season.

The player himself explained how he deals with moments of pressure, as quoted by AP: "It just gives me the best opportunity to make the right decision on the next play, which is the most important thing. I have noticed throughout my career and my personal experiences that emotions only get in the way of critical and intelligent thinking, especially in those moments when I most want to get the job done. I try to put my emotions aside and stay focused on what is happening and what matters most."