🚨 NBA MILESTONE UPDATE — INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS EXTEND MVP RUN 🏆🌍

🚨 NBA MILESTONE UPDATE — INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS EXTEND MVP RUN 🏆🌍

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the most balanced case to win MVP in 2025-2026Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2025–26 season, earning the award for the second consecutive year and further cementing his status as one of the league’s premier global superstars.

Gilgeous-Alexander secured the honor over fellow finalists Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, with 83 first-place votes out of 100, according to league voting results. The Thunder guard led Oklahoma City to the best record in the league for a second straight season, continuing the franchise’s rise as a Western Conference powerhouse.

The MVP victory also extends one of the most striking trends in modern NBA history: international player dominance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA MVP win is the 8th straight for an international  player, extending U.S. drought that dates back to 2018 - Yahoo SportsInternational players extend unprecedented MVP streak

With Gilgeous-Alexander’s latest award, international players have now won eight consecutive NBA MVP trophies, dating back to 2019. The streak has been shared among a small group of global superstars who have defined the league’s current era.

During this stretch, the MVP award has gone to:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) – two times
  • Nikola Jokić (Serbia) – three times
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) – two times
  • Joel Embiid (Cameroon) – one time

The last American-born player to win MVP was James Harden in 2018.

Wembanyama and Doncic headline next generation

This year’s MVP race further highlighted the global nature of the league, with all three finalists born outside the United States. French phenom Victor Wembanyama finished among the top contenders, while Slovenian star Luka Dončić also remained in the upper tier of voting.

Other top American finishers included Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown, but neither received significant first-place consideration compared to the international trio at the top.

OKC Thunder Superstar Running Away With NBA MVP in Latest Straw PollThunder star continues rise toward championship contention

At just 27 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander has now built one of the most impressive résumés in the NBA, combining scoring titles, All-NBA selections, and now multiple MVP awards. His leadership has transformed Oklahoma City into a perennial contender, with the Thunder maintaining elite regular-season success while building toward a championship push.

With the league increasingly led by international talent, Gilgeous-Alexander’s latest MVP win further underscores a shifting era in NBA history—one defined by global stars at the very top of the game.