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NBA 2025-26 Season: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins Second Consecutive MVP; Victor Wembanyama Named Defensive Player of the Year

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🏀 NBA 2025-26 Season Awards: SGA Repeats as MVP, Wembanyama Wins DPOY Unanimously

The NBA concluded its 2025-26 regular season with the announcement of major individual awards. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the league's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year, while San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama won the Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously. The announcements were made during the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Most Valuable Player Award

Winner and Voting

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player. The award was announced before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.

According to ESPN, Gilgeous-Alexander received 83 of 100 first-place votes from a media panel. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić finished second with 10 first-place votes. San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama placed third with five first-place votes. Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

"All the numbers, all the accolades, everything that I do on the court, if we won 10 games I wouldn't be in this conversation." — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Season Performance

The Thunder finished the regular season with a 64-18 record, the best in the NBA for the second consecutive season. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points per game, second in the league behind Luka Dončić (33.5). He also averaged 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 39% on three-pointers and 55.3% from the field.

  • Gilgeous-Alexander set an NBA record with 140 consecutive regular-season games scoring 20 or more points. He also surpassed a record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most consecutive games with 20+ points on 50.0% or better shooting.
  • He scored 40 or more points in seven games, including a career-high 55 points in a double-overtime win against the Indiana Pacers.
  • He led the NBA in plus-minus (+788).
  • Gilgeous-Alexander also won the Clutch Player of the Year award, receiving 96 of 100 first-place votes.

Historical Context

Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, is the 14th player in league history to win MVP in back-to-back seasons. The most recent player to achieve this was Nikola Jokić (2020-21 and 2021-22). According to multiple reports, this is the eighth consecutive MVP award won by a player born outside the United States, and the fifth consecutive season international players finished 1-2-3 in MVP voting.

Player and Coach Statements

  • Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said: "Who he is has never changed. I think he's touched up the edges on his game and on his leadership and on his perspective, just like anybody else that's coming of age."
  • Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said: "Shai's so good at creating separation when he's able to play 1-on-1. He's just really hard to stop, for any defender."

Gifts and Ceremony

Oklahoma City Thunder chairman Clay Bennett, general manager Sam Presti, and coach Mark Daigneault attended Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP ceremony. Gilgeous-Alexander's wife, son, father, and cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta Hawks) were also present. According to reports, Gilgeous-Alexander gave each teammate a gift package including a Burberry trench coat, an iPhone, golf clubs, and an Audemars Piguet watch valued at approximately $32,000.

Defensive Player of the Year Award

Winner and Voting

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was announced as the 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year on April 20, 2026. Wembanyama received all first-place votes from the 100-member global media panel, making him the first unanimous winner in the award's history. The other finalists were Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons.

Wembanyama joins David Robinson and Michael Jordan as the only players to win both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Historical Significance

  • At age 22, Wembanyama is the youngest player to win the award. He will turn 23 in January 2027.
  • The San Antonio Spurs became the first franchise with four different players to win DPOY. Previous Spurs winners are Alvin Robertson (1986), David Robinson (1992), and Kawhi Leonard (2015, 2016).
  • Wembanyama joins David Robinson and Michael Jordan as the only players to win both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
  • This is the 10th known unanimous selection for any major NBA award (MVP, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man, Most Improved Player, DPOY, or Coach of the Year).
  • Wembanyama is the first player to win two different awards unanimously, having also been the unanimous Rookie of the Year in 2024.

Performance Context

Wembanyama led the NBA in blocked shots for the third consecutive season. He finished second in DPOY voting as a rookie in 2024. He was considered a favorite for the award in 2025 before a medical condition ended his season early.

Player Poll Results

MVP Preference

A poll conducted by The Athletic surveyed 159 anonymous NBA players between late February and early April 2026. Results showed:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 39.0% of votes as players' choice for MVP
  • Nikola Jokić: 21.4% of votes
  • Victor Wembanyama: 5.0% of votes

Some players cited Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency and his role on the team with the best record as reasons for their selection.

Most Underrated and Overrated Players

According to The Athletic's poll of 161 anonymous players:

Most Underrated Player: Derrick White (Boston Celtics) and Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks) tied for first. Other top vote-getters included Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Payton Pritchard (Celtics), Jrue Holiday (Portland Trail Blazers), and Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers).

Most Overrated Player: Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets) received 10 votes (12.3%). Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Trae Young (Washington Wizards) tied for second.

Coach Ratings

  • Most Impressive Coach (excluding own): Joe Mazzulla (Celtics) led Boston to a 56-26 record. Mark Daigneault (Thunder) finished second; J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons) third.
  • Least Impressive Coach: Brian Keefe (Washington Wizards) received votes after the Wizards finished 17-65. Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors) also received votes.

Best Defensive Player

Victor Wembanyama won with 41.1% of the player vote. Chet Holmgren finished second. Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) tied for fourth.

Award Finalists

The NBA announced finalists for several end-of-season awards on Sunday, April 20, 2025, during the first weekend of playoff games.

Award Finalists Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić (Denver), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio), Chet Holmgren (OKC), Ausar Thompson (Detroit) Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg (Dallas), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte), VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia) Coach of the Year J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit), Joe Mazzulla (Boston), Mitch Johnson (San Antonio) Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson (San Antonio), Jaime Jacquez Jr. (Miami), Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver) Most Improved Player Nickeil Walker-Alexander (Atlanta), Deni Avdija (Portland), Jalen Duren (Detroit) Clutch Player of the Year Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), Jamal Murray (Denver), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)

Playoff Context

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the Western Conference finals with an undefeated postseason record, having swept the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. The Thunder were scheduled to face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Monday, May 5, 2026. The Spurs had a 4-1 record against the Thunder during the regular season.