Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to enter another historic NBA tier after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that he has won MVP for the second straight season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star beat Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic to the award, adding another major marker to his stunning rise.
Once confirmed by the league, it will place Gilgeous-Alexander alongside some of the greatest guards ever after a season built on scoring, control and winning.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins rare guard company
According to Underdog, Gilgeous-Alexander will become just the fifth guard in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards.
He joins Stephen Curry, Steve Nash, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, which underlines the size of the achievement before the Thunder’s biggest playoff test.
Gilgeous-Alexander ended the regular season averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, guiding Oklahoma City to the Western Conference’s number one seed.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s numbers underline historic level
Gilgeous-Alexander’s season was marked by dominance in several categories. Underdog reports that he finished first in clutch points per game, clutch points total, 20-point games and plus-minus.
He was also second in total points, second in points per game, second in 30-point games and third in 40-point games.
There has been controversy around the way he draws fouls, but those numbers make it impossible to argue he is not operating at a historic level.
His momentum has also carried into the playoffs. The Thunder swept two teams on their way to the conference finals, with Gilgeous-Alexander remaining pivotal throughout.
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