Shock MVP Victory: How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Edged Out Nikola Jokić in a Controversial Finish

It was the kind of headline that would swirl debates late into the night—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snagging the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award over the seemingly unstoppable Nikola Jokić. Announced Wednesday, and first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, this decision stirred the pot in one of the tightest MVP battles we’ve seen in recent memory. At just 26, Gilgeous-Alexander has climbed from consistent top-five MVP contender to the pinnacle of individual honors, steering the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA’s best regular-season record while leading the league in scoring. This moment isn’t just another trophy for him — it’s a bold statement that he’s carved his place among basketball’s elite. With Giannis Antetokounmpo also in the mix, the official numbers behind the voting are still under wraps, but the narrative is clear: SGA’s well-rounded dominance on both ends of the floor tipped the scales in his favor, halting Jokić’s pursuit of a fourth MVP. Want to dive deeper into how this MVP race shaped up? LEARN MOREAdvertisementHe did all of this during a dominant season for the Thunder in which they clinched the No. 1 seed in the West on March 20 with 13 games remaining on their regular-season schedule. Oklahoma City finished the regular season at 68-14, 16 games ahead of the second-place Houston Rockets (52-30) in the West and four games ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished the season with the NBA’s second-best record (64-18).In 70 regular-season games, Jokić averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 57.6% from the floor and 41.7% on 4.7 3-point attempts per game. Jokić joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season.

In 70 regular-season games, Jokić averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 57.6% from the floor and 41.7% on 4.7 3-point attempts per game. Jokić joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season.

In 70 regular-season games, Jokić averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 57.6% from the floor and 41.7% on 4.7 3-point attempts per game. Jokić joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season.

Who was more valuable?

In 70 regular-season games, Jokić averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 57.6% from the floor and 41.7% on 4.7 3-point attempts per game. Jokić joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season.

AdvertisementGilgeous-Alexander’s package of excellence on both sides of the ball for the NBA’s best team ultimately compelled voters to award him his first MVP and deny Jokić his fourth.Advertisement