Tyrese Haliburton Picks OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for NBA MVP

The Pacers star says he'd vote for Gilgeous-Alexander over Spurs' Victor Wembanyama for the award.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:23pm

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In a recent interview, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said he would vote for Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the 2026 NBA MVP over San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, despite Wembanyama's impressive individual stats and the Spurs' hot streak. Haliburton praised both players but ultimately believes Gilgeous-Alexander deserves the award for the second consecutive year.

Why it matters

The MVP race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama has been a major storyline in the NBA this season, with the two players putting up dominant numbers and leading their teams to strong records. Haliburton's endorsement of Gilgeous-Alexander carries weight as a fellow star player, and could influence the voting process.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points, 6.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.1 turnovers per game while shooting 55.3% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range. Wembanyama, the 22-year-old Spurs standout, is averaging 24.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3.1 blocks, 1.1 steals and 2.5 turnovers per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 34.8% from 3-point range. The Thunder hold a two-game advantage over the Spurs in the Western Conference standings, though San Antonio has been on a hot streak recently.

  • Haliburton made the comments in a recent interview with Dirk Nowitzki.

The players

Tyrese Haliburton

A star player for the Indiana Pacers who recently faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a fierce seven-game playoff series last season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The reigning NBA MVP who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder and is averaging over 31 points per game this season.

Victor Wembanyama

The 22-year-old standout player for the San Antonio Spurs who has emerged as a top MVP candidate this season, averaging impressive stats across the board.

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What they’re saying

“If I had a vote, it would for sure go to Shai for back-to-back. I think what (Victor Wembanyama) is doing in San Antonio is amazing, so I don't want to take away from that, but I would vote for Shai.”

— Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers Star

The takeaway

The MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama has been one of the biggest storylines in the NBA this season, with both players putting up dominant numbers. Tyrese Haliburton's endorsement of Gilgeous-Alexander for the award carries significant weight and could sway some voters, though Wembanyama's impressive stats and the Spurs' hot streak make it a close and compelling race.