The Cusp of Immortality
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the verge of winning his second consecutive NBA MVP award, he is about to etch his name alongside some of the greatest players in basketball history. Back-to-back MVPs are not handed out - they are earned through sustained dominance at the highest level of the sport.
A Rare Club
In NBA history, only 12 different players have won back-to-back MVP awards, doing so a combined 15 times. That number alone tells you everything you need to know about how difficult - and how rare - this achievement truly is.
The Most Recent Examples
- Nikola Jokić - 2021, 2022, and 2024 (won three of four consecutive years)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2019-2020
- Stephen Curry - 2015-2016
The Full List of Consecutive MVP Winners (Since 1970)
| Player | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 2021-2022 (+ 2024) |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2019-2020 |
| Stephen Curry | 2015-2016 |
| LeBron James | 2009-2010, 2012-2013 |
| Steve Nash | 2005-2006 |
| Tim Duncan | 2002-2003 |
| Michael Jordan | 1988, 1991-1992, 1996, 1998 |
| Magic Johnson | 1989-1990 |
| Moses Malone | 1982-1983 |
| Larry Bird | 1984-1985-1986 (three consecutive) |
The Three-Peat Club
Only three players in NBA history have won the MVP award three years in a row:
- Bill Russell - 1961-1963
- Wilt Chamberlain - 1966-1968
- Larry Bird - 1984-1986
These are the gold standards of sustained individual excellence - a bar so high that even the greatest players of the modern era have never reached it.
Multiple Non-Consecutive Streaks
Two legends stand alone in winning back-to-back MVPs in two separate, non-consecutive stints:
- LeBron James - 2009-10 and 2012-13
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 1971-72 and 1976-77 (six total MVP awards, the all-time record)
Back-to-Back Finals MVPs
Beyond the regular season, dominance in the Finals is the ultimate test. A select group has won consecutive Finals MVP awards:
- Michael Jordan - Multiple Finals MVP runs with the Bulls dynasty
- Hakeem Olajuwon - Back-to-back champion and Finals MVP (1994-1995)
- Shaquille O'Neal - Three consecutive titles and Finals MVPs with the Lakers (2000-2002)
- Kobe Bryant - 2009-2010
- LeBron James - 2012-2013 with Miami
These back-to-back Finals MVP accomplishments go beyond individual brilliance - they represent players who elevated their entire teams when the stakes were at their absolute highest.
What It Means for SGA
If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins this year's MVP, he joins a list of players who transcended their eras. Oklahoma City, long viewed as a rebuilding project, has become a genuine powerhouse under his leadership. The Thunder don't just have a star - they may have a dynasty-in-the-making built around one of the most complete players in the league.
History is watching. And SGA is right on time.
