Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Enters 2026/27 Campaign Seeking Redemption and Historic Third Consecutive MVP
Ranked second in Flashscore's NBA Top 100, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to bounce back from a painful playoff exit with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The back-to-back MVP now has the chance to chase a historic third straight award while aiming to lead his team to championship glory.
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned the number two spot in Flashscore's NBA Top 100 for the 2026/27 season after another dominant individual campaign. By securing consecutive Most Valuable Player awards, he joined an elite group of just 14 players in NBA history to successfully defend the honor.
During the 2025/2026 regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered stellar numbers across 68 games, averaging 31.1 points on 55.3 percent shooting from the field, including 38.6 percent from beyond the arc, alongside 6.6 assists. His performances propelled the Thunder to the top spot in the Western Conference for the third straight regular season.
Despite their regular-season dominance, the Thunder suffered an unexpected collapse in the postseason. What appeared to be a smooth path toward another championship ended abruptly in the conference finals, where Oklahoma City fell to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7. While statistics show that the reigning MVP was hardly the sole reason for the defeat, franchise leaders often shoulder the burden of such high-stakes failures.
Looking ahead to the 2026/27 season, Gilgeous-Alexander faces immense expectations amid an increasingly competitive field of contenders, including the rising Spurs. For the upcoming season, a reasonable target for the star guard includes pushing his scoring average toward 35 points per game and remaining firmly in the MVP race.
Beyond team success, Gilgeous-Alexander has an opportunity to chase basketball history. Only three legends—Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird—have captured the MVP award three times in a row. With Oklahoma City remaining a premier title contender, Gilgeous-Alexander has the platform to potentially become the fourth player to achieve the rare feat.