Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named NBA MVP, Third in Thunder History

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been named the NBA Most Valuable Player, becoming the third Thunder player to win the award after leading the league in scoring and guiding his team to a league-best 68-14 record. The announcement, made on TNT, confirmed Gilgeous-Alexander's victory over finalists Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP recognition has generated significant excitement among Thunder fans, who see him joining the ranks of past Thunder MVPs like Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Notably, former Nuggets coach Michael Malone, despite previously advocating for Jokic, publicly acknowledged Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP caliber performance during the playoffs, highlighting his impact in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder are currently competing in the Western Conference Finals, aiming to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Meanwhile, the Nuggets face an uncertain offseason as they look to restructure their team around Jokic after being eliminated by the Thunder.