he National Basketball Association (NBA) announced in the early hours of Thursday, May 22 (Philippine Standard Time), that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA’s 2024–25 KIA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Gilgeous-Alexander beat out competition from Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee Bucks icon Giannis Antetokounmpo to win the prestigious honor. This is the first time the 26-year-old has received the MVP award and he becomes only the second player from Canada to earn the distinction, following two-time winner Steve Nash. Notably, Gilgeous-Alexander is also the third player from the Thunder to win the award, after Kevin Durant (2013–14) and Russell Westbrook (2016–17).
He had an outstanding 2024–25 NBA regular season, averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in approximately 34.2 minutes across 76 appearances. The guard set career highs in points, assists, and blocks per game. He also became the first player since James Harden (2018–19) to lead the league in games with at least 20 points (75), 30 points (49), 40 points (13), and 50 points (4). 
Gilgeous-Alexander was the runaway leader in the voting, earning 71 first-place votes for a total of 913 points. He finished well ahead of second-placed Jokić (787 points) and third-placed Antetokounmpo (470 points). Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell rounded out the top five with 311 and 74 points, respectively.
The superstar also joined an illustrious list, featuring Michael Jordan, as the only players in NBA history to average at least 32.0 points and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 50 percent or better from the field in a single season. Interestingly, Jordan achieved this feat twice — in 1988–89 and 1989–90.
Lastly, Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the seventh straight international player to win the MVP award, joining Nikola Jokić (2024, 2022, 2021), Joel Embiid (2023), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020, 2019).
With the MVP award now under his belt, the Canadian will aim to secure the NBA Finals MVP award come June — a feat that would not only mark his first NBA championship but also make him the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both honors in the same season.
