Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be slipping in the MVP conversation, but not because he’s gone anywhere. If anything, the reason says plenty about where the Thunder stand right now.
The OKC star is the reigning back-to-back MVP, and by the time his career is done, he could have a resume that lands him among the NBA’s all-time greats. This season, he’s chasing a third straight Michael Jordan Trophy, a feat only Bill Russell and Larry Bird have pulled off.
But the early picture looks different than it has in recent years. ESPN’s Summer Forecast panel had Gilgeous-Alexander fourth in its MVP voting in late August, behind Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
Wembanyama’s placement is easy to understand. The 22-year-old followed a huge season in which he averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds, won Defensive Player of the Year, and pushed his young Spurs all the way to the NBA Finals.
The more interesting part is the company ahead of SGA. At first glance, his drop can look like simple voter fatigue after another relentless season of production and polish. But there’s a different explanation here, and it’s one Gilgeous-Alexander would probably welcome.
Jokic and Doncic are still the kind of names that naturally live in the MVP race. They’re two of the best players in the world, and both are on teams expected to be in the playoff mix. The problem is that their supporting casts took hits this offseason.
Denver lost its brightest young star, Peyton Watson, because of dreaded second-apron pressures, and former Laker LeBron James went East for the winter. That leaves both teams looking less talented than they were a year ago. Bleacher Report’s recent win projections reflected that, with Denver and Los Angeles each forecast to win at least six fewer games than last season.
That’s where the Thunder’s situation stands out. Oklahoma City is still projected to land near the same win total it posted last season, which means Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t need to carry nearly the same kind of burden as some of his MVP rivals.
He still has one of the league’s most complete rosters around him. That’s the trade-off. Luka and Jokic may have to do more of the heavy lifting for their teams, while SGA can operate within a deeper, stronger group.
And that’s fine with him. Gilgeous-Alexander has never been shy about putting team success ahead of individual hardware. If the Thunder make another championship run, he’ll be at the center of it, but Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and others will also shoulder major responsibilities.
So if the 2026-27 season ends with a ring and no MVP Trophy for SGA, he’ll probably be the least bothered person in the room.
In Other News...
Thunder Fans Are Missing The Real Reason OKC Lost To Spurs
Chet Holmgrens rough showing in the Western Conference Finals drew plenty of attention, and for good reason. He struggled to find his rhythm against San Antonio, shot poorly and spent much of the matchup being outplayed by Victor Wembanyama, which made him an easy place to point after the Oklahoma City Thunder came up short.
But the bigger issue for Oklahoma City was never just Holmgrens box score. The Thunder were dealing with major rotation losses in Jaylen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, and those absences left the roster thinner than it needed to be in the most demanding part of the series. Even with that handicap, Oklahoma City still dragged the matchup all the way to a Game 7, which says plenty about how close the Thunder were despite the circumstances. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Fans Have A Sneaky Reason To Watch Jalen Duren Free Agency
Jalen Durens restricted-free-agent situation has turned into one of those quiet NBA watch items that can matter far beyond the player himself. The big man has not reached a new deal with Detroit yet, and with several teams lurking - including the Kings, Lakers, Rockets, Clippers and Celtics - his next stop is being followed closely around the league. For Thunder fans, the appeal is less about adding Duren and more about the ripple effect his decision could have on the rest of the Western Conference.
Sacramento is the name to circle here because of where the Kings sit in the standings picture and how much room there still is for movement around them. Duren landing there would not be expected to dramatically alter their postseason outlook, but the Thunder have plenty of reason to keep an eye on the broader free-agent market, since a different destination could give one of Oklahoma Citys biggest rivals a meaningful boost. So even if this is not a Thunder move in the traditional sense, it is the kind of transaction that could shape the path ahead in ways that matter in Oklahoma City. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Still Face A Costly Cason Wallace Decision
Cason Wallace has been extension-eligible with the Thunder all summer, and the lack of a deal says plenty about where this conversation stands. Oklahoma City has plenty to weigh with one of its most dependable young pieces, especially after Wallaces regular-season value and his playoff role both became part of the bigger evaluation of what he should mean to the franchise going forward.
The timing only adds to the pressure, with a deadline looming before the 2026-27 season and NBA insider Shams Charania already flagging Wallace as one of the 2023 draft picks worth watching for a new contract. For the Thunder, this is the kind of decision that can shape future flexibility as much as present-day depth, and the longer it drags on, the more it hints at a real gap in how both sides are viewing his next deal. [Read more 🡒]