Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the NBA’s 2024-25 MVP award, as ESPN reported. This victory also marks the seventh consecutive year an MVP was awarded to an international player, alongside Nikola Jokić (2024, 2022, 2021), Joel Embiid (2023), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020, 2019). Notably, he is the first Thunder player to earn this accolade since Russell Westbrook in 2016, and is also the first MVP from Kentucky.

His performance this season is among the best by a guard in NBA history, leading the league with 32.7 points per game, a feat matched only by a few others in the modern era like James Harden and Kobe Bryant. Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting metrics were impressive as well, with averages of 51.9% shooting from the field and 89.8% from the free-throw line, contributing significantly with 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Oklahoma City finished the season with the second-highest net rating and fifth-best record in NBA history. The Thunder’s outstanding defense, coupled with Gilgeous-Alexander’s offensive prowess, made him indispensable for the team.

Most PPG on 60-win team in NBA history

Season	Player	PPG	Won NBA Title?
1971–72	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	34.8	No
2024–25	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	32.7	???
1970–71	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	31.7	Yes
1990–91	Michael Jordan	31.5	Yes

In a season filled with fierce competition for the MVP award, Jokić had a statistically superior season, becoming the first center to average a triple-double. However, his Nuggets team finished significantly behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder in wins.

As the playoffs unfold, fans are now eager to see if Gilgeous-Alexander can add the Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy to his collection this June, aiming to become the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both titles in the same season.