Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the MVP trophy from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s trophy case is a little more jammed.

A day after the Oklahoma City guard was revealed as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, he received the Michael Jordan Trophy from Commissioner Adam Silver before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday night.

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It was the fourth individual trophy for Gilgeous-Alexander in just under a year — and three of those were hand-delivered by Silver.

“In the 80-year history of the NBA, only a few select players have won back-to-back MVPs,” Silver said in a brief on-court ceremony. “Shai, you now join that elite group. Congratulations.”

Gilgeous-Alexander hoisted the trophy for a few seconds, before placing it back on a table at midcourt so it could be carried off — by a person wearing white gloves.

Not counting the 2025 Western Conference Finals MVP award (which didn’t come from Silver), there was last year’s MVP trophy, then the 2025 NBA Finals MVP award, and now this MVP trophy — all done at midcourt in Oklahoma City, with the roar of Thunder fans drowning out all other noises.

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“There’s actually not a day that goes by that I’m not incredibly grateful for this team,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I’m not out there dribbling the ball. We have a great team. And Shai’s a huge part of that, obviously, and the thing he leads the charge with is he’s a great guy. He’s got a great makeup.”

Gilgeous-Alexander was honored with San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama standing nearby. The Thunder are facing the Spurs in the West title series; the 22-year-old Wembanyama, a first-time finalist for MVP, was third in the voting behind Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

“I think Victor being in the top three for his age is remarkable,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I also think very appropriate. It is well-earned and he’s done more than enough to earn that from the voters. I think Shai has had a remarkable year, a remarkable run, which extends past just this year. And I think the voters reflected that.”

The NBA redesigned many of its…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/shai-gilgeous-alexander-gets-mvp-004239525.html

Author : TIM REYNOLDS

Publish date : 2026-05-19 00:42:00

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