Gilgeous-Alexander named MVP over 3-time winner Jokic
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 2024-25 NBA MVP, the league announced Wednesday.
The Kentucky product beat out Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who have won the award three times and twice, respectively, to claim his first MVP award.
| Player | Team | Total points |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 913 |
| Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | 787 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 470 |
| Jayson Tatum | Celtics | 311 |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers | 74 |
| LeBron James | Lakers | 16 |
| Cade Cunningham | Pistons | 12 |
| Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves | 12 |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 2 |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 1 |
| James Harden | Clippers | 1 |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | 1 |
*Gilgeous-Alexander received 71 of 100 first-place votes. Jokic received 29.
"I always thought that I could be a really good player because I had seen what putting your head down and working and controlling what you control can do for you," Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "I made tremendous strides, but I never thought this was going to happen.
"I dreamt about it as a kid, but as a kid, it's a fake dream. But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it's hard to not freak out. It's hard to not be a six-year-old kid again. And I think that's what's allowed me to achieve it. I tried to just not focus on it and just worry about what's gotten to this place."
Gilgeous-Alexander is the second Canadian to win the NBA's most prestigious trophy - Steve Nash won back-to-back awards in 2005 and 2006. It's the seventh consecutive year the MVP was born outside the United States.
Gilgeous-Alexander was last season's runner-up but lost to Jokic by 286 points.
He's the first guard to be named the league's most valuable player since James Harden in 2018. The 26-year-old is the third Thunder player to win the award, joining Kevin Durant in 2014 and Russell Westbrook in 2017.
Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC to a league-best 68 wins, which was also a franchise record, and the second-highest net rating in NBA history.
His 32.7 points per game represented the highest average in the league, and he led the Association in 50-, 40-, 30-, and 20-point outings. Gilgeous-Alexander was also fifth in the league in steals per game (1.7) and 14th in assists (6.4).
Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible to sign a five-year, $380-million extension in the 2026 offseason, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.