If you’ve been paying any attention to the league lately, you know the vibe has shifted. For years, the conversation about who won the mvp in the nba was basically a three-man loop. You had Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo just passing the trophy around like a hot potato. But the 2024-25 season felt different from the jump. It wasn't just about who put up the most "video game" numbers anymore; it was about a total takeover.
Honestly, the answer isn't a surprise if you watched a single Oklahoma City Thunder game last year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) didn't just win the MVP; he essentially grabbed the league by the throat and didn't let go until he was holding the Michael Jordan Trophy.
The Numbers That Settled the Debate
People love to argue about "value." Is it the best player on the best team? Or the guy with the most ridiculous stat line? For Shai, it was both.
He averaged a league-high 32.7 points per game. Think about that for a second. In an era where everyone is hunting three-pointers, Shai did most of his damage by getting to his spots in the midrange and finishing at the rim with that weird, slithery timing that nobody can seem to block. He also chipped in 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds.
But here is the "kinda" crazy part: he led the league in scoring while sitting out 17 fourth quarters.
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The Thunder were blowing teams out so badly that their superstar was chilling on the bench with a towel over his shoulders while other MVP candidates were stat-padding in close games. That’s a level of dominance we haven't seen since the peak Steph Curry years.
Why Jokic Didn't Get a Fourth
Nikola Jokic was right there, as always. The Joker actually averaged a triple-double—29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. Statistically, you could argue he was better.
Voter fatigue is real, sure, but that’s not why he lost.
The Nuggets finished with 50 wins, which is great for most humans but looked "sorta" pedestrian compared to what was happening in Oklahoma City. The Thunder finished 68-14. They had the best point differential in NBA history at +12.6. When a team is that historically good, you have to reward the engine behind it.
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The Voting Breakdown (It Wasn't Even That Close)
When the ballots finally came out in May 2025, the margin was wider than people expected. Shai took home 71 first-place votes. Jokic picked up the remaining 29.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 913 total points
- Nikola Jokic (DEN): 787 total points
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 470 total points
- Jayson Tatum (BOS): 311 total points
Giannis was incredible, but the Bucks' inconsistency hurt him. Tatum was the best player on a loaded Celtics team, but he didn't have that "alpha" statistical edge that Shai carried all year.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Win
There’s this narrative that Shai is just a "foul merchant" or a "free throw hunter." If you actually watch the tape, it's the opposite. He’s one of the most disciplined players in the league.
He rarely turns the ball over (under 2 per game!) and he's actually a menace on defense. He averaged 1.7 steals and a block per game as a guard. He became the first Kentucky Wildcat to ever win the award, which is a wild stat considering how many pros that school pumps out.
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He also became the first player since Steph Curry in 2015 to win the regular season MVP and the NBA Finals MVP in the same year. That 2025 Thunder run was legendary. They swept Memphis, outlasted Denver in a 7-game war, and then took down the Pacers in the Finals.
Looking Ahead to 2026
We are currently in the middle of the 2025-26 season, and the race is heating up again. As of January 2026, Shai is the heavy favorite to win back-to-back MVPs.
Jokic hyperextended his knee in December, which has sidelined him and likely removed him from the 65-game eligibility requirement. This has opened the door for guys like Luka Doncic (who is now with the Lakers) and Cade Cunningham to climb the ladder, but Shai is still the guy to beat. He's currently on a streak of 111 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points.
Basically, we are living in the SGA era.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to keep track of the current race and see if Shai can pull off the repeat, keep an eye on these three things:
- The 65-Game Rule: Players must play at least 20 minutes in 65 games to be eligible for awards. This is already hurting Jokic's chances this year.
- The OKC Seed: If the Thunder fall out of the #1 spot in the West, the door opens for Luka or Jayson Tatum.
- Individual Milestones: Watch Shai's scoring average. If he stays above 30 PPG while maintaining his efficiency (shooting over 50% from the floor), the trophy is likely staying in Oklahoma City.
The landscape of the league has changed. The old guard is still great, but the crown officially belongs to the kid from Hamilton, Ontario.