Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins Second Straight NBA MVP Award

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, continuing one of the most remarkable international eras in league history.

The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar becomes just the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards, further cementing his place among basketball’s elite players and Canada’s greatest basketball exports.

But beyond Shai’s individual brilliance, his latest MVP victory also extends a growing trend that is reshaping the NBA — the dominance of international superstars.

International Players Continue NBA MVP Dominance

Shai’s victory means international-born players have now won eight consecutive NBA MVP awards.

The last American-born player to win the award was James Harden in 2018.

Since then, the award has been dominated by global stars including:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
• Nikola Jokic (Serbia)
• Joel Embiid (Representing USA internationally)
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada)

The streak has sparked major discussion across basketball circles about the changing balance of power in the NBA and the rise of international talent development.

Before this modern international era, American players had won 59 of the NBA’s first 63 MVP awards, highlighting how dramatically the landscape of the league has changed in recent years.

Complete List of Recent NBA MVP Winners

2020s NBA MVP Winners

2020 — Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
2021 — Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
2022 — Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
2023 — Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
2024 — Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
2025 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
2026 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

The run further highlights the growing international influence currently dominating the NBA.

Players to Win Back-to-Back NBA MVP Awards

By winning consecutive MVP awards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins one of the most exclusive groups in NBA history.

Complete List of Back-to-Back NBA MVP Winners

Bill Russell — Boston Celtics — 1961, 1962

Wilt Chamberlain — Philadelphia 76ers — 1966, 1967, 1968

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — Milwaukee Bucks — 1971, 1972

Moses Malone — Houston Rockets / Philadelphia 76ers — 1982, 1983

Larry Bird — Boston Celtics — 1984, 1985, 1986

Magic Johnson — Los Angeles Lakers — 1989, 1990

Michael Jordan — Chicago Bulls — 1991, 1992

Tim Duncan — San Antonio Spurs — 2002, 2003

Steve Nash — Phoenix Suns — 2005, 2006

LeBron James — Cleveland Cavaliers — 2009, 2010

LeBron James — Miami Heat — 2012, 2013

Stephen Curry — Golden State Warriors — 2015, 2016

Giannis Antetokounmpo — Milwaukee Bucks — 2019, 2020

Nikola Jokic — Denver Nuggets — 2021, 2022

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Oklahoma City Thunder — 2025, 2026

Shai also becomes just the fourth guard in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards, joining Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Steve Nash, and Stephen Curry.

Is the NBA Entering a Fully Global Era?

The growing number of international MVP winners has led many fans and analysts to question whether the NBA is now fully entering a global era.

Basketball’s worldwide growth, improved international development systems, and expanded scouting pipelines have helped produce elite talent from countries outside the United States at an unprecedented rate.

Players like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have become the faces of the modern NBA, with many of the league’s biggest stars now coming from outside America.

For Canada specifically, Shai’s continued rise represents another landmark moment for the country’s basketball growth following the success of two-time MVP Steve Nash.

The Oklahoma City guard’s combination of scoring, leadership, efficiency, and consistency made him one of the league’s standout players once again this season.

At just 27 years old, Shai’s legacy — and the NBA’s international revolution — may only just be beginning.