Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City Thunder has been named the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player. The announcement was made by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on May 21.
The announcement came one day after the Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, in which Gilgeous-Alexander played a crucial role in the victory.
“You try so hard throughout the season to, like, not think about it, and just worry about playing basketball, getting better and trying to win games, but as a competitor and as a kid dreaming about the game, it’s always in the back of your mind,” Gilgeous-Alexander told broadcasters after the announcement.
“I’m very thankful to be decided [the winner] by the ballot. None of it’s possible without the guys behind me.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Stats
Having a remarkable regular season, the 26-year-old led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game, shooting an exceptional 51.9% from the field. He also averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and was among the league leaders in steals, all while guiding Oklahoma City to a league-best 68–14 record.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 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 became the second-ever Canadian player to win the honour after Steve Nash.
The Toronto native received 71 out of 100 first place votes, accumulating 913 total points.
Also Read: NBA All-Star Game MVP Award: Full List Of Winners
Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who was league MVP last season for the third time in his career, finished second with 787 points and racked up the other 29 first-place votes cast. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was third (470 total), Boston’s Jayson Tatum was fourth (311) and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell was fifth (74) of 12 players receiving votes.
The NBA MVP is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from across the United States and Canada, based on regular-season performance. It is one of the league’s most prestigious individual honours, awarded annually since 1956.