Kevin Durant in 2014. Russell Westbrook in 2017. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2025.
Assuming Gilgeous-Alexander noses out Nikola Jokic for this year’s Most Valuable Player award, SGA will become the Thunder’s third MVP winner in the last 12 years.
That’s a one-MVP-per-presidential-term pace.
Producing three different MVP winners in any stretch of time is rare enough. Only the Rockets, Lakers, Celtics, 76ers and soon-to-be Thunder have done it. But three in a 12-year span is unprecedented. Until now.
Consider that eight franchises are still looking for their first MVP: the Grizzlies, Hornets, Magic, Nets, Pacers, Pelicans, Pistons and Raptors.