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NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becomes 14th player to win back-to-back NBA MVPs

Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named MVP for the second consecutive year; Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama placed third; Watch the NBA Playoffs live on Sky Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gestures during a news conference after being named MVP
Image: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gestures during a news conference after being named MVP

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder became the 14th ever player to win the Most Valuable Player as he picked up the award for the second consecutive year on Sunday.

The Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama placed third, while the Canadian's win marked the eighth consecutive time that a player born outside the USA has picked up the prestigious award.

"Basketball's obviously a team sport," Gilgeous-Alexander said Sunday night in a celebration at the Thunder practice facility, surrounded by teammates - all in new Burberry trenchcoats, a gift from the now two-time MVP.

"All the numbers, all the accolades, everything that I do on the court, if we won 10 games I wouldn't be in this conversation. So, thank you guys so much. I love you guys."

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, poses with teammates
Image: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (centre), poses with teammates

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a three-pointer in the game's dying seconds to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Denver Nuggets.

Gilgeous-Alexander got 83 of a possible 100 first-place votes. Jokic received 10 and Wembanyama got five. Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers was fourth in the voting and Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons was fifth.

Cunningham got two first-place votes - the first by a U.S.-born player since 2021.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talks to a teammate during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basket
Image: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talks to a teammate during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basket

Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics was sixth, and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers and Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers tied for seventh with one fifth-place vote apiece.

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"Who he is has never changed," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I think he's touched up the edges on his game and on his leadership and on his perspective, just like anybody else that's coming of age."

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