Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player [1].
The achievement cements the guard's status as a dominant force in the league and places him in an elite historical category of players who have maintained peak performance across multiple seasons.
Gilgeous-Alexander secured the award during the NBA awards reveal on Sunday night, May 17 [2]. By winning the honor for the second season in succession, he becomes the 14th player in NBA history to achieve back-to-back MVP awards [3].
This milestone is particularly rare in the modern era of the sport. He is only the seventh player this century to win the award in consecutive years [1]. The achievement follows a season of historic performances that solidified his role as the centerpiece of the Thunder franchise.
While some reports described him as the overwhelming favorite leading up to the announcement [2], the official reveal confirmed his status as the league's top player for the 2025-26 season [1].
The Thunder guard's consistency has allowed him to join a short list of legends who have dominated the voting process in successive years. His ability to maintain this level of play has positioned Oklahoma City as a primary contender in the league.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player”
Gilgeous-Alexander's back-to-back MVP status signals a shift in the NBA's power dynamic, moving away from established veterans toward a new era of versatile guards. By becoming one of only 14 players to ever repeat as MVP, he has transitioned from a rising star to a historical benchmark for individual excellence in the professional game.
