Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off to another great start in the 2025-26 season. However, other stars are also making their presence felt, which could make for tougher competition. He won the MVP narrowly in the previous season, but going back-to-back may seem a bigger challenge than ever.

Sure, OKC has had its own fantastic start with two consecutive 2OT victories against the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers, and SGA performed well, but then other notable names have been making rounds of their own. From Luka Doncic bringing bigger performances with LeBron James out, Stephen Curry getting back to his scoring groove, and even Victor Wembanyama with otherworldly stat lines, each of these is deserving of early accounts for the MVP.

But can Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and the first guard to win the award since 2018, hold his ground and make a strong case to go back-to-back, as the first guard since Curry in 2014-16 to repeat at the top?

Considering the Thunder’s Status, SGA is on Fire

Jalen Williams is still recovering from his wrist surgery and isn’t expected to return in a few weeks or months. Nikola Topic is also recovering from a testicular surgery, and Thomas Sorber is redshirting his first season with OKC. There’s even a crop of players missing some time, with Isaiah Joe and Kenrich Williams missing the first two games.

And yet, SGA himself has been on a tear. The MVP dropped 35 points in his first game and then set a new career-high 55 points in the second one. Both games had to be decided in the clutch, which says a lot about how Gilgeous-Alexander is definitely making his presence felt in the race for the MVP once more.

In the first two games of the season, he’s already averaging 45 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game on 45% shooting. OKC has won without some of its best players under SGA’s lead, and it seems that there are high hopes that he will be gunning for a second MVP in a row, all while pushing the Thunder to some impressive wins so far.

Now more than ever, it does seem that Gilgeous-Alexander is on the rise with high expectations set before him. Sure, there are some notable names making waves to begin the season, but we all know that consistency matters, and Shai isn’t one to shy away from that kind of banter; his impressive game speaks for itself.

SGA’s MVP Chances

Gilgeous-Alexander is at the top of the MVP odds to begin the season, according to Bet365. With candidates on the rise so far, it does seem that this will be an interesting year for the MVP race. Now more than ever, there are a lot of expectations set before him, and SGA has to find a way to prove that he’s still one of the best icons the league has to watch out for.

Sure, criticize all you want about him making 23 of 26 free throws in that recent win against Indiana. There’s no denying that OKC is getting a lot of heat when it comes to those antics by SGA, but that’s one of his skills, something that cannot be replicated so easily. But if that helps the Thunder come up with needed wins or even push his numbers to a whole new level, then it doesn’t matter at all.

As of the time of writing, SGA stands with +175 odds to win the MVP, followed closely by Nikola Jokic at +250. Doncic is making his presence felt and has risen among sportsbooks with +400. Giannis Antetokounmpo follows suit with +1000, while Victor Wembanyama drives into the discussion with +1200.

Can SGA Win MVP Again?

Barring injuries, SGA can definitely go for the second time in his career, as he’ll be playing 82 games in a season. The most he’s played was last season, with 76 games logged to his name. He even played 75 games in 2023-24 as well. More games for SGA mean that he’ll get to bring the Thunder to bigger heights.

If OKC can win 68 games with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, imagine what historic feat Oklahoma City would come up with once more. After all, nothing is easy for the Thunder, and everything is earned. That goes the same way for SGA gearing up for an MVP run once more, and this one is definitely his to lose now more than ever.