Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season, a first for the Oklahoma City Thunder star after a standout year in which he led the league in scoring and guided his team to the best record in the NBA.
His MVP victory extends the league’s streak to seven consecutive seasons with the award going to a player born outside the United States—now the longest such run in NBA history.
Gilgeous-Alexander, born in Ontario, Canada, reflected on his journey to the league’s top individual honor with gratitude and perspective. “There’s not enough emphasis on how much your off-court life influences what you do on the court,” he said. “When I improved off the court, my career took off. That’s not a coincidence.”
The MVP race came down to Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Both received 100 combined first- and second-place votes, but the Thunder guard edged out Jokic by earning 71 first-place votes to Jokic’s 29. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo finished third.
This season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game, while leading the Thunder to a remarkable 68-14 record. The team’s average margin of victory was 12.9 points per game, setting a new league record.
He becomes only the second Canadian ever to win MVP, joining two-time winner Steve Nash. “Steve set the foundation,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He was the first Canadian basketball player I knew, and without him, this dream wouldn’t have seemed possible growing up.”
He also becomes the first guard to earn the honor since James Harden in 2018. His teammate Kenrich Williams highlighted what makes him special: “His confidence — not just in himself, but the way he instills it in all of us.”
Though Jokic didn’t win this time, he put up historic numbers — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game — becoming the first center to average a triple-double for a season and ranking in the top three across all three statistical categories. Despite that, he finished second in the voting.
Jokic had high praise for his rival. “He’s a special player,” he said. “His shot selection, his ability… he’s always a threat.”
Antetokounmpo, who averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, placed third. He began the ongoing international MVP streak with back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020. Jokic, from Serbia, won in 2021, 2022, and 2024, while Joel Embiid, originally from Cameroon, won in 2023.
For Gilgeous-Alexander, this season marked a breakthrough. After finishing fifth in MVP voting two years ago and second last year, he entered this campaign determined to shift the narrative. “Last year, more people believed I shouldn’t win than should,” he said during the TNT broadcast. “This year, I wanted to flip that. I think I did.”
Rounding out the MVP vote were Boston’s Jayson Tatum (fourth), Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell (fifth), and the Lakers’ LeBron James (sixth), who earned MVP votes for the 20th time in his 22-year career. Others in the top 10 included Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Jalen Brunson, and Evan Mobley.
The MVP honor was voted on by a panel of 100 global media members before the playoffs began. Other awards determined through the same voting process have already been announced, including:
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Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland)
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Most Improved Player: Dyson Daniels (Atlanta)
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Rookie of the Year: Stephon Castle (San Antonio)
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Defensive Player of the Year: Evan Mobley (Cleveland)
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Clutch Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson (New York)
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Sixth Man of the Year: Payton Pritchard (Boston)
Additional accolades announced after the regular season included:
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Teammate of the Year: Stephen Curry (Golden State)
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Hustle Award: Draymond Green (Golden State)
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Executive of the Year: Sam Presti (Oklahoma City)
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Sportsmanship Award and Social Justice Champion: Jrue Holiday (Boston)
With this MVP award, Gilgeous-Alexander is now eligible for a contract extension that could exceed $300 million, potentially earning him about $1 million per game during the 2030–31 and 2031–32 seasons.
And true to his word, he rewarded his teammates with luxury watches after promising to do so if he won the MVP. “They deserve that and more,” he said. “I’d take the MVP over a Rolex any day — and without them, I wouldn’t have it.”
