The 2025-26 NBA regular season has concluded, and the playoffs are set to begin, with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander firmly in the spotlight for MVP honors.
Why it matters: Gilgeous-Alexander's remarkable performance this season has positioned him as a leading candidate for the MVP award, potentially marking his second consecutive win. His contributions have been instrumental in the Thunder achieving a league-best record.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points per game on 55.3% shooting, a historic scoring campaign that places him among the elite in NBA history.
The Thunder finished the season with a 64-18 record, boasting an impressive 11.1 point differential, highlighting their dominance throughout the regular season.
With 100 media members voting on the awards, each NBA market gets at least one vote, adding weight to Gilgeous-Alexander's candidacy.
Driving the news: As the playoffs approach, award conversations have intensified, and Gilgeous-Alexander's name consistently surfaces among the top contenders. His ability to maintain high performance levels, especially during clutch moments, has captured attention.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA in clutch time points, clutch plus/minus, and total buckets scored in clutch situations, underscoring his impact when games are on the line.
The Thunder’s strong start, including an 18-1 record before Jalen Williams played a minute, was largely driven by Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring prowess and leadership.
This season, he also achieved a career-best average of 6.6 assists per game, coupled with a low turnover rate of 2.2, demonstrating his efficiency on the court.
State of play: The MVP race for the 2025-26 season is exceptionally competitive, with several players making strong cases for the award alongside Gilgeous-Alexander.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is another strong candidate, noted for his defensive prowess and offensive contributions, averaging 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds.
Nikola Jokić, the three-time MVP, continues to be a formidable presence, having put up impressive numbers that exceed those from his previous MVP seasons.
Other notable candidates include Luka Dončić, who had a late-season surge, and Jaylen Brown, who has led the Boston Celtics to a surprising playoff berth.
The big picture: The Thunder's success this season can be attributed to their resilience in the face of injuries, which affected many key players, including Gilgeous-Alexander himself.
Only two teams in the league faced more games lost due to injury than the Thunder, yet they managed to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference.
Coach Mark Daigneault has been recognized for his ability to navigate these challenges, positioning him as a candidate for Coach of the Year.
Gilgeous-Alexander's performance has made a case for MVP and for other awards, including Clutch Player of the Year, where he is expected to be a frontrunner.
What they're saying: Analysts and former players have weighed in on the MVP race, highlighting the significance of Gilgeous-Alexander’s contributions to the Thunder.
“He’s been the most consistently brilliant player since the start of the season,” said sports commentator Chris Mannix, emphasizing Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring ability and efficiency.
Daigneault noted that Gilgeous-Alexander has improved upon last season's performance, supporting the argument for his MVP candidacy.
With multiple strong candidates, the debate around who deserves the award remains heated, but Gilgeous-Alexander's stats speak volumes.
By the numbers: Gilgeous-Alexander's statistical achievements this season are impressive and tell a story of dominance.
He averaged over 30 points in every full month played, shooting at least 52% from the floor, marking a high level of consistency.
His performance in games where he played without Jalen Williams was particularly notable, with an average of 32 points in those matchups.
In clutch situations, he scored 175 points on 51.5% shooting, contributing significantly to the Thunder's success in close games.
What's next: As the playoffs loom, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder as they aim for a championship run.
The NBA playoffs are set to start soon, with the Thunder looking to capitalize on their regular-season success and Gilgeous-Alexander's standout performance.
With awards announcements approaching, the MVP race will likely remain a hot topic among fans and analysts alike.
As Gilgeous-Alexander continues to perform at a high level, he could solidify his legacy as one of the greats in the game.