Reports: MVP to Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Field Level Media|published: Wed 21st May, 16:57 2025

NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder

May 20, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the fourth quarter during game one of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be awarded NBA Most Valuable Player on Wednesday night, according to multiple reports.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game on 50 percent shooting with per-game averages of at least five rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals and one block in a season. Jordan did it twice, and each time was named NBA MVP (1988, 1991).

Gilgeous-Alexander would mark the first Thunder MVP winner since Russell Westbrook (2017) and is expected to receive the award in an official announcement on Wednesday.

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 51.9 percent, averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 block in 2024-25. He was named All-NBA First Team for the second consecutive season, which makes "SGA" eligible for a four-year, $294 million extension in the offseason.

The runner-up in MVP balloting to Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) after the 2023-24 season, Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and dispatched the reigning MVP's Denver squad in a seven-game series to advance to the Western Conference finals.

Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, averaged over 30 points per game for the third consecutive season.

Oklahoma City holds a 1-0 lead in the series over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

--Field Level Media

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