Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s path to a third straight MVP may be simpler than it looks: keep the Oklahoma City Thunder at the top.
That’s the cleanest argument in his favor heading into next season. Gilgeous-Alexander has already stacked back-to-back MVPs on top of leading the Thunder to a title in 2025, and at 28, he still has more of his story to write. Another award would push him into even rarer territory, since the jump from consecutive MVPs to three in a row has happened only three times in league history.
The challenge, of course, is that the voters rarely make anything easy. Three straight would put Gilgeous-Alexander in a tiny club, and the race will bring the usual noise. But Oklahoma City’s position matters, and that’s where he has a real edge.
The Thunder have led the league in wins over the past two seasons, and if they’re sitting near the top again, that team success will give Gilgeous-Alexander a strong foundation. If the standings stay tight, the award may come down to who can separate themselves from the pack, and the reigning MVP has the advantage of being attached to the No. 1 seed.
Victor Wembanyama is the top challenger entering the year, but if neither player creates much distance in the standings, that opens the door for the Thunder star to stay in front. And if other names like Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Giannis Antetokounmpo or someone else start building momentum, Gilgeous-Alexander should still have a major buffer thanks to Oklahoma City’s win total.
The scoring piece only strengthens the case. Gilgeous-Alexander has been near the top of the league in scoring over the past few seasons, and that kind of production, paired with elite team success, is hard to knock down. MVP voting is about more than simply being the best player on the best team, but that label won’t hurt him here.
Nothing is guaranteed. But if the Thunder keep rolling, Gilgeous-Alexander will be in the best possible spot to make a run at a third straight MVP.
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The challenge now is making sure that identity survives the next wave of roster decisions. The Thunder have financial questions ahead, but they also have a young core under contract through 2027-28, which gives them time to keep shaping a team that already looks built to bother opponents for years. The front office has changed pieces around that foundation, and the next step is seeing how those adjustments hold up when the games start to matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Rookie Bennett Stirtz Is Already Feeling A Backcourt Squeeze
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Topics health history has made his path a little more complicated, but the bigger picture is still clear: the Thunder like what they have enough to keep investing in it. For Stirtz, that means a rookie year with little room to coast, especially in a backcourt where every role seems to have competition and every minute has to be earned. [Read more 🡒]
Cason Wallace Faces One Big Test In OKCs Bigger Role
Cason Wallace is about to get a different kind of spotlight in Oklahoma City, with a larger scoring role likely waiting after Lu Dorts departure. The Thunder have long valued Wallace for what he does without the ball in his hands, especially on defense, but his growth now comes with a chance to show he can be more than a connector piece on a deep roster.
What makes the assignment tricky is that the Thunder do not need Wallace to reinvent himself overnight. He shot the ball well from deep in the playoffs and has enough help around him that he does not have to hunt every touch, which is why the challenge is less about volume than judgment. If Wallace keeps trusting the offense and resists the urge to force shots, Oklahoma City has reason to believe the expanded role can fit him cleanly. [Read more 🡒]