Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Tops NBA MVP Race Among Peers

Oklahoma City star impresses fellow players with consistent, dominant performance despite injuries to teammates

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and team interplay of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, rendered in a vibrant color palette of blues, oranges, and greens.Gilgeous-Alexander's all-around brilliance and leadership have propelled the Thunder to the top of the West, earning him MVP consideration from his NBA peers.Oklahoma City Today

In an anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA MVP award, garnering 39% of the votes from 159 NBA players surveyed. Gilgeous-Alexander's peers praised his consistency and ability to lead the Thunder to the top of the Western Conference standings despite key injuries to his teammates.

Why it matters

Gilgeous-Alexander's potential back-to-back MVP awards would cement his status as one of the league's elite players and further establish the Thunder as a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. The player poll results also highlight the respect Gilgeous-Alexander has earned from his fellow NBA players.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander led all NBA MVP candidates in the anonymous player poll, garnering 39% of the votes. Nikola Jokic finished a distant second with 21.4% of the votes, while Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, and Luka Doncic each received 8.2% of the votes. One unnamed player praised Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency, noting that 'he scores at least 20 every night' despite the Thunder dealing with key injuries. Another player simply stated that Gilgeous-Alexander deserves the award because 'he's the best player on the best team'.

  • The Athletic released their anonymous player poll on April 12, 2026.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star point guard of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who is favored by his peers to win the NBA MVP award for the second consecutive season.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets center, who finished second in the anonymous player poll for the NBA MVP award.

Jaylen Brown

The Boston Celtics forward, who tied for third in the anonymous player poll for the NBA MVP award.

Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons guard, who tied for third in the anonymous player poll for the NBA MVP award.

Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks star, who tied for third in the anonymous player poll for the NBA MVP award.

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What they’re saying

“Shai has been super consistent. They've had injuries, and he's stayed consistent. We take it for granted, (but) he scores at least 20 every night. He's had a lot of his guys injured, and they're still No. 1 in the West.”

— Unnamed NBA Player

“He's the best player on the best team. What more do you have to say?”

— Unnamed NBA Player

What’s next

The NBA MVP award will be announced at the end of the 2025-26 season. If Gilgeous-Alexander wins, he will join an elite group of players who have won the award in back-to-back seasons.

The takeaway

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance and leadership of the Thunder have earned him the respect and admiration of his NBA peers, who overwhelmingly believe he deserves to win his second consecutive MVP award. This recognition cements Gilgeous-Alexander's status as one of the league's premier players and the Thunder as a top contender in the Western Conference.