Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA's Most Valuable Player
He is the second Canadian to win the MVP award after Steve Nash won it twice.
Hamilton, Ontario’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Wednesday night, with the Oklahoma City Thunder guard becoming just the second Canadian to win the league’s top individual prize.
Gilgeous-Alexander received first place votes from 71 of the 100 media members on the panel, with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets getting the other 29. Everyone who had Jokic first had Gilgeous-Alexander second and vice-versa, giving the Canadian enough points to win the Michael Jordan Trophy. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks finished third.
Jokic, who won the award in 2021, 2022, and 2024, became just the third player in NBA history with a top-two finish in five or more consecutive seasons. Last season Jokic beat the second-place Canadian, but Gilgeous-Alexander now extends the league-record streak to seven years in a row where a player from outside the United States has won the MVP.
He is the second Canadian to win the award, after Steve Nash won in back-to-back seasons in 2005 and 2006.
"He set the foundation," Gilgeous-Alexander said about Nash after being named MVP. "He was the first Canadian basketball player I knew of and without seeing guys go to the NBA from Canada, it wouldn't have been as much of a dream as it was for us as kids growing up. So, to be in a conversation with a guy like that and what he has meant to not only basketball but to the country of Canada, it's special."
Gilgeous-Alexander appeared in 76 games in the regular season, and won the scoring title with an average of 32.7 points per game. That is a new career best for the 26-year-old, who also set new career-highs in assists (6.4 per game) and blocks (1.01). He scored 20+ points in 75 of his 76 games, including each of the last 72.
He joined award namesake Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 32 points and six assists per game and shoot 50 per cent or better over a season. He also led the league with 601 free throws made, and defensively he was the only qualifying player this season to average at least 1.5 steals and one block per game.
With SGA at the forefront, the Thunder had the best record in the NBA at 68-14, which equalled the sixth-best season in league history. They set NBA records for most games won by double digits (54), best point differential (+12.9), and best record against the opposing conference (29-1 against teams from the Eastern Conference).
They have continued that strong form into the playoffs, and advanced to the Western Conference Final where they have a 1-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He will receive his MVP trophy before game two of that series on Thursday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the third player in Thunder history after Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17) to win MVP, making them just the fifth team to have three different players earn the honour.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a three-time NBA All-Star and was previously voted the 2023 Northern Star Award as Canada’s best athlete, finishing as a finalist for the 2024 crown as well.
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