Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeat as NBA MVP? The experts weigh in...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Jim Dedmon, Imagn Images

Nikola Jokic was the NBA’s last repeat MVP winner back in 2021 and 2022 — will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be next to make history?

After becoming the first former Kentucky Wildcat to take home the league’s top individual award in 2024-25, Gilgeous-Alexander will be in a position to not only repeat as MVP, but also repeat as champions with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Only 27 years old and coming off a historic all-around season, the 6-foot-6 superstar guard is about to enter his prime. But he likely won’t be the favorite to win MVP again in 2025-26.

The insiders over at ESPN recently surveyed “a group of NBA experts, including reporters, editors and analysts” to rank its top choices for all six of the NBA’s major awards. Gilgeous-Alexander received the third-most points for MVP behind Jokic and Luka Doncic, respectively.

Nikola Jokic (DEN): 83 points
Luka Doncic (LAL): 62 points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 46 points
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)/Anthony Edwards (MIN): 9 points
Kevin Durant (HOU): 8 points

It won’t come as a shock to see Jokic at the top here. He’s undeniably the best player in the world right now and had a strong resume to win MVP a season ago. There’s a case to be made that 2024-25 was his most efficient season yet, but he lost out on MVP due to a lack of team success compared to the Thunder, along with SGA’s bump for being a better defensive player. Over the last five years, Jokic has won three MVPs and finished as runner-up twice for the Denver Nuggets, which expect to have a more suitable roster surrounding its superstar in 2025-26.

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Doncic finishing second in this poll feels more related to him now playing for the world-famous Los Angeles Lakers and the vision of him finally taking his body more seriously. How that translates to actual success is yet to be seen. The oddsmakers share similar “worries” — BetMGM has Gilgeous-Alexander (+260) right behind Jokic (+250) as the top two MVP favorites, with Doncic checking in as a clear third (+450).

Other candidates will pop up throughout the season, but we could be in for another SGA-Jokic battle for MVP.