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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP Award Extends Unique NBA Streak

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Ettinger | Last updated May 21, 2025 8:40 PM ET

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a historic regular season. At 26 years old, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard set multiple NBA records along the way. Gilgeous-Alexander was rewarded on Wednesday when it was announced he'd won the 2024-25 Kia NBA MVP award.

In season No. 7, he averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.9% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range.

Shai also led his Thunder to the best record in the NBA this season (68-14), securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. With the Western Conference finals under way, the Thunder already hold a 1-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win official, the Canadian-born player has extended a unique streak for NBA MVPs. The award has now been won by international-born NBA players for the seventh consecutive seasons.

NBA MVP is an international player for the 7th consecutive season:

‘25: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada)
‘24: Nikola Jokic (Serbia)
‘23: Joel Embiid (Cameroon)
‘22: Nikola Jokic
‘21: Nikola Jokic
‘20: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
‘19: Giannis Antetokounmpo
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 21, 2025

The list consists of Nikola Jokic (Serbia) in 2021, 2022, and 2024, Joel Embiid (Cameroon) in 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) in 2019 and 2020, and now Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) in 2025.

The last American-born NBA player to win the NBA MVP award was James Harden in 2018. Prior to Harden, the streak of American-born players extended back to 2007 when Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) won the award in consecutive seasons.

Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP also makes him just the second Canadian player in NBA history to win the award, with Steve Nash being the other.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in 20-point (73), 30-point (49), and 40-point games (13) this season. His streak of consecutive games scoring at least 20 points also stands at 72.

Gilgeous-Alexander outlasted Jokic and Antetokounmpo in this year's vote while also ousting Jokic from the playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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