Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Poised to Capture Second Straight NBA MVP Award

Thunder star's odds surge as Wembanyama, Jokic fall behind in final stretch

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:53pm

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With just one week remaining in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as the clear frontrunner to win his second consecutive MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander's odds have skyrocketed to -2000, leaving San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama (+900) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in his wake.

Why it matters

Gilgeous-Alexander's dominant season has kept the Thunder atop the Western Conference standings, despite key injuries to teammates. A second straight MVP would cement his status as one of the league's elite players and put him in rare company, joining an exclusive club of back-to-back award winners.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging a career-high 31.4 points per game while shooting an efficient 55.2% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range. He has led the Thunder to a 62-win season, three games ahead of Wembanyama's Spurs. Wembanyama's MVP case was hinged on San Antonio overtaking OKC for the top seed in the West, but Sunday's loss to the Nuggets has made that task increasingly difficult.

  • With just one week left in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, the MVP race appears to be decided.
  • On Friday, Gilgeous-Alexander's odds jumped from -600 to -2000 after ESPN's Tim Bontemps' final MVP straw poll.
  • On Sunday, the Spurs lost to the Nuggets, putting them three games back of the Thunder with four games remaining.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder star is the heavy favorite to win his second consecutive NBA MVP award after dominating the regular season with career-high averages of 31.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation and Defensive Player of the Year favorite has seen his MVP odds drop to +900 after the Spurs fell three games behind the Thunder in the standings.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets center, who is averaging a triple-double this season, has fallen behind Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama in the MVP race.

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What they’re saying

“SGA has a strong chance to join a pretty exclusive list of Hall of Famers that have captured consecutive league MVPs.”

— Peter Dewey, Author

What’s next

With the MVP award all but locked up, the focus will shift to whether Gilgeous-Alexander can lead the Thunder to an NBA championship and cement his legacy as one of the league's all-time greats.

The takeaway

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's dominant season has cemented his status as the NBA's MVP, joining an elite group of players to win the award in consecutive seasons. His performance has kept the Thunder atop the Western Conference despite key injuries, further solidifying his place among the league's superstars.