Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters the 2026–27 season with an opportunity to win a third consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award. Only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird have achieved that sequence, according to NBA.com's preseason feature.
A rare individual target
No player has completed an MVP three-peat in 40 years. Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are among the greats who never joined that particular list.
Gilgeous-Alexander received more than 75% of the first-place MVP votes across the previous two seasons. His average of 32 points per game over that span also leads the league. Those performances put him in the conversation again, although the coming award has yet to be decided.
The Thunder guard says his approach remains centered on becoming the best player he can be for his team and winning as many games as possible. He also believes he is more versatile and in better physical condition than before.
Leadership before trophies
Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti highlighted Gilgeous-Alexander's discipline, work ethic and emotional regulation, describing his mindset as a driving force behind his rise.
There are other contenders. In the NBA's preseason general-manager survey, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama was selected as the likely next MVP. That is a forecast, rather than an award result.
Gilgeous-Alexander credits collective work for individual success and has given teammates thank-you gifts after his two MVP seasons. He says leadership has developed as he has matured, including through fatherhood. Setting an example and consistently following the standards he asks of others remain central to that role as Oklahoma City begins another campaign.