LEXINGTON, Ky. \u2013 Continuing his run at the pinnacle of the sport, former Kentucky star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA Most Valuable Player on Sunday, marking the second consecutive season in which the Oklahoma City Thunder guard earned the league\u2019s highest honor.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander becomes just the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP Awards, and the first to do so since Nikola Jokic in 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander earned 83 of the 100 first place votes to win the award handily over the runner up, Jokic.<\/p>\n
Now in his eighth season in the league, Gilgeous-Alexander finished the regular season second in scoring with an average of 31.1 points per game, while leading the Thunder to a league-best record of 64-18. Gilgeous-Alexander also averaged 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds on the year, while shooting 55.3 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from deep and 87.9 percent from the foul line. It was the most efficient season from the floor for Gilgeous-Alexander of his NBA career, as he became the first guard in league history to average at least 30 points per game while shooting at least 55.0 percent from the field.<\/p>\n
Defensively, Gilgeous-Alexander collected 1.4 steals per game and helped anchor a Thunder defense that allowed just 107.9 points per game, ranking second in the league and tops in the western conference.<\/p>\n
As part of his exceptional 2025-26 campaign, Gilgeous-Alexander set the NBA record for the most consecutive games scoring 20 or more points with 140, breaking Wilt Chamberlain\u2019s mark of 126-straight 20 points games which had stood for more than 60 years.<\/p>\n
The Thunder, looking to repeat as NBA Champions, have advanced to the Western Conference Finals where they will take on the San Antonio Spurs. Game one is set for Monday at 8:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.<\/p>\n
In Lexington for the 2017-18 season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. He was named the MVP of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, helping the Wildcats to the title with a win over Tennessee in the championship game. That year, Gilgeous-Alexander was an All-SEC Second Team selection and an All-SEC Freshman Team honoree.<\/p>\n
In addition to his two MVP awards, Gilgeous-Alexander is a four-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection. He also won NBA Finals MVP last season, leading the Thunder to the NBA Championship.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander adds MVP honors to his Clutch Player of the Year award earned back in April. San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson was also a major award winner this season, claiming NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors.<\/p>\n
Kentucky\u2019s NBA players have racked up numerous honors over the years and have won at least one major award every year since 2021. A complete list of Wildcats awards in the NBA:<\/p>\n
Most Valuable Player
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2026)<\/p>\n
Rookie of the Year
Karl-Anthony Towns (2016)<\/p>\n
Most Improved Player
Tyrese Maxey (2024)
Julius Randle (2021)<\/p>\n
Sixth Man of the Year
Tyler Herro (2022)
Keldon Johnson (2026)<\/p>\n
Clutch Player of the Year
De\u2019Aaron Fox (2023)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2026)<\/p>\n
Coach of the Year
Dwane Casey (2018)
Pat Riley (1990, 1993, 1997)<\/p>\n
Executive of the Year
Pat Riley (2011)<\/p>\n
Social Justice Champion
Karl-Anthony Towns (2024)<\/p>\n
Sportsmanship Award
Tyrese Maxey (2024)<\/p>\n
Community Assist Award
Devin Booker (2021)
John Wall (2016)<\/p>\n
Offseason Community Assist Award
DeMarcus Cousins (2017)<\/p>\n
Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
Dan Issel (1985)<\/p>\n
All-Star Game MVP
Anthony Davis (2017)
Adrian Smith (1966)<\/p>\n
For the latest on the Kentucky men\u2019s basketball team, follow\u00a0@KentuckyMBB\u00a0on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>, and on the web at UKathletics.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n