Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores second-straight NBA MVP title

Los Angeles, California - Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for a second straight season, ESPN reported on Sunday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second-straight NBA MVP title as the Oklahoma City Thunder eye another championship title.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second-straight NBA MVP title as the Oklahoma City Thunder eye another championship title.  © Luke Hales / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Gilgeous-Alexander, who is also the reigning NBA Finals MVP, is due to be officially named as the winner of the award later Sunday in a televised announcement.

The ESPN report did not provide details of the voting for the award, which saw Gilgeous-Alexander up against San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and Denver's Nikola Jokic.

Canadian star Gilgeous-Alexander (27) joins an elite club of only 14 NBA players who have won back-to-back MVP honors.

Nuggets star Jokic was the last to achieve the feat in 2021 and 2022, while the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo also went back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.

Other players to have won consecutive MVPs include Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

Gilgeous-Alexander's second award comes after another dazzling individual season that saw him average 31.1 points and 6.6 assists per game, helping the Thunder to a 64-18 record that saw them finish on top of the Western Conference.

The Thunder face Wembanyama and the Spurs in game one of the Western Conference finals on Monday.

Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP also extends a streak of overseas players to win the honor.

The last American to win an NBA MVP was James Harden in 2018.

Cover photo: Luke Hales / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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