OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could join rare club of back-to-back-to-back NBA MVPs this season

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, is on track to become the rarest of NBA players — a back-to-back-to-back winner of the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Only four players have achieved this feat in the last 40 years, and Gilgeous-Alexander is positioned to join their exclusive club this season.

Among those who have accomplished the feat are basketball legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite this impressive list, Gilgeous-Alexander's focus remains on leading his team to victory and championships rather than individual accolades. He has said, "I’ve just got to be the best player I can be for this basketball team, win as many games as possible."

With an exceptional scoring average of 32 points per game over the past two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander is currently the top scorer in the NBA during that span. He has also secured more than 75% of the first-place MVP votes in those periods. The Thunder general manager, Sam Presti, believes Gilgeous-Alexander possesses the qualities of a consistently elite performer, citing his work ethic, discipline, character, and superior emotional awareness and regulation.

As the game has evolved, so has Gilgeous-Alexander. International players have won the last eight MVP awards, and if the annual polling of the league's general managers proves accurate, that trend will continue with the addition of Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs this season. Other notable international-born MVPs include Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic. Gilgeous-Alexander, originally drafted 11th overall, has come a long way since his early days as a lightly recruited college player.

While Gilgeous-Alexander's individual success is undoubtedly important, he is acutely aware that winning MVP awards is a team effort. He has previously showered his teammates with gifts after his first two MVP seasons, emphasizing the significance of leadership. If the Thunder continue to be contenders, Gilgeous-Alexander will likely be a top candidate for the coveted individual award once again.