Thunder's Alexander Reportedly Wins Second Consecutive NBA MVP, Joining Legends Like Jordan and James [Video]
According to the report, Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second consecutive year. This reportedly makes him the 18th player in league history to win at least twice and the 14th to win back-to-back, continuing the trend of international players securing the award.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 10:55
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(CNA, Los Angeles, May 17, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Oklahoma City Thunder's Alexander was named the National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) today, winning the honor for the second consecutive year. He becomes the 18th player in league history to win at least twice and the 14th to win back-to-back.
According to combined reports from Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, the win for the Canadian-born Shai Gilgeous-Alexander marks the eighth straight year an international player has won the MVP award.
This trend began in 2019 and 2020 with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was born in Greece to Nigerian parents. It was followed in 2021 and 2022 by Denver Nuggets' Serbian center Nikola Jokic. In 2023, it was Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, born in Cameroon, and in 2024, Jokic won it again.
The years 2025 and 2026 were swept by Alexander.
The last American player to be named league MVP was James 'The Beard' Harden in 2018.
News of Alexander's win was first reported by ESPN and officially announced shortly after on a live television broadcast.
As the reigning NBA Finals MVP, Alexander led the Thunder to a championship last year. In his acceptance speech, he specifically thanked his teammates for their support.
'Of course, relentless hard work and not being content, but more importantly, the other guys on the team always supporting me, being on the court with me every single night,' Alexander said in an interview with Amazon Prime about the key to his success.
'It's a long season, full of ups and downs, injuries, and all sorts of challenges, and these teammates still laced up every night and fought with me. I couldn't have won 64 games without them.'
'We really have fun together. Sometimes the NBA can feel like a business, but this group of guys brings the game back to the pure joy I had playing as a kid. I think that's one of the reasons I and the whole team have been able to succeed.'
In the MVP voting by about 100 reporters and sports media professionals across North America, Alexander won with 83 first-place votes and a total of 939 points.
Jokic finished second with 10 first-place votes, and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama was third with 5 first-place votes.
With today's award, Alexander officially joins the ranks of legendary stars like 'Steph' Curry, 'LeBron' James, 'His Airness' Michael Jordan, 'Magic' Johnson, and 'Larry Legend' Larry Bird in the group of back-to-back MVP winners. (Translator: Tsai Chia-min)
According to combined reports from Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, the win for the Canadian-born Shai Gilgeous-Alexander marks the eighth straight year an international player has won the MVP award.
This trend began in 2019 and 2020 with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was born in Greece to Nigerian parents. It was followed in 2021 and 2022 by Denver Nuggets' Serbian center Nikola Jokic. In 2023, it was Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, born in Cameroon, and in 2024, Jokic won it again.
The years 2025 and 2026 were swept by Alexander.
The last American player to be named league MVP was James 'The Beard' Harden in 2018.
News of Alexander's win was first reported by ESPN and officially announced shortly after on a live television broadcast.
As the reigning NBA Finals MVP, Alexander led the Thunder to a championship last year. In his acceptance speech, he specifically thanked his teammates for their support.
'Of course, relentless hard work and not being content, but more importantly, the other guys on the team always supporting me, being on the court with me every single night,' Alexander said in an interview with Amazon Prime about the key to his success.
'It's a long season, full of ups and downs, injuries, and all sorts of challenges, and these teammates still laced up every night and fought with me. I couldn't have won 64 games without them.'
'We really have fun together. Sometimes the NBA can feel like a business, but this group of guys brings the game back to the pure joy I had playing as a kid. I think that's one of the reasons I and the whole team have been able to succeed.'
In the MVP voting by about 100 reporters and sports media professionals across North America, Alexander won with 83 first-place votes and a total of 939 points.
Jokic finished second with 10 first-place votes, and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama was third with 5 first-place votes.
With today's award, Alexander officially joins the ranks of legendary stars like 'Steph' Curry, 'LeBron' James, 'His Airness' Michael Jordan, 'Magic' Johnson, and 'Larry Legend' Larry Bird in the group of back-to-back MVP winners. (Translator: Tsai Chia-min)