Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t spending much time chasing the MVP conversation, and that may be exactly why he keeps ending up in it.
At Monday’s media day, the Thunder star was asked about the possibility of winning a third straight Michael Jordan Trophy this season, a feat that would place him alongside Bill Russell (1961-63), Wilt Chamberlain (1966-68), and Larry Bird (1984-86) as the only players ever to do it. Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t sound like someone trying to force the issue. “the decision for MVP is like literally 82 games away,” he said, adding that his goal is simply to “try and be the best player I can be.”
That kind of answer might read as modest, but Gilgeous-Alexander said that same mindset has been the “recipe” behind his two previous MVP seasons. In other words, the pressure to chase the award hasn’t been the fuel. The work has.
Still, there’s a strange disconnect between what he’s done and how he’s being viewed heading into the 2026-27 season. ESPN’s Summer Forecast panel slotted him fourth in its MVP voting behind Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic. More recently, ESPN also ranked him third in its updated NBA player rankings for the upcoming campaign, behind Wembanyama and Jokic.
For a reigning two-time MVP, that’s a little surprising.
Gilgeous-Alexander is 28 and already has a case as one of the great offensive guards the league has ever seen. He’s the only guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game in a season while shooting 55.0 percent or better from the field, and he owns the all-time record for the most consecutive games with 20 or more points.
And the impact goes beyond the scoring. Last season, he posted a defensive rating of 105.2, held opponents to 43.0 percent shooting, and finished second in both defensive win shares at 0.179 and total deflections with 199.
So while the preseason boards are treating him like a guy who’s merely in the mix, the résumé says something louder. If Gilgeous-Alexander keeps following the same “recipe,” the MVP race may end up looking familiar all over again.
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Cason Wallace Suddenly Carries A Bigger Thunder Question Than Expected
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There is another layer to the conversation, though, and it is the kind that tends to follow promising players in Oklahoma City once they start looking indispensable. Wallace is eligible for an extension this summer, and the talks are ongoing even if both he and Mark Daigneault say it is not becoming a distraction. For now, the Thunder are trying to keep the conversation centered on development and performance, but the calendar gives the situation a little more urgency than the usual offseason backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
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There is still real business to sort through, even for a team that has spent recent seasons building with a clear plan. The final roster spot is one part of it, but the deeper question is how the Thunder fill the minutes and responsibilities left behind by offseason departures while also deciding which of the newer faces can actually stick once camp competition starts to harden. [Read more 🡒]
Otega Oweh Suddenly Faces A Real Thunder Problem This Preseason
Sam Presti spent part of the preseason talking about the NBAs new 3-2-1 draft lottery format and why it could make the league more competitive while cutting down on tanking, but the same broader shift could create a more ordinary problem for Oklahoma Citys own young players. The Thunder have long leaned on big rotations to help develop talent, and that approach has usually given prospects room to grow while the games still matter.
This preseason, though, tighter margins could make those minutes harder to find for second-round pick Otega Oweh. If the Thunder are playing more competitive games and shrinking the floor for developmental reps, his path could get complicated quickly, especially with the team weighing how best to handle his roster status and long-term growth. [Read more 🡒]