Biggest threat to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeating as MVP comes to town early

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have already begun hearing echoes of, "Dynasty," whenever their names are discussed. The Thunder won their first-ever championship in 2024-25, and with a superstar and a deep cast to support him, there's reason to believe they can do so again.

If the goal is repeating past success, however, then Gilgeous-Alexander will first need to deal with the player who has the best chance of preventing him from winning a second straight MVP: Luka Doncic.

Gilgeous-Alexander was in generational form in 2024-25, winning NBA MVP, Finals MVP, and the scoring title. It was a sensational season on every level from the Thunder's resident superstar, and at 27 years of age, it stands to reason that his résumé is far from finalized.

Doncic is a serious threat to Gilgeous-Alexander's odds of going back-to-back as MVP, however, as his ascension has many believing he's destined to secure the honor at some point in his career.

Doncic is already a five-time All-NBA First Team honoree, as well as the scoring champion who preceded Gilgeous-Alexander. He's now playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and will have ample opportunities to make his name known in MVP conversations under the brightest of lights.

Thankfully, Gilgeous-Alexander will have his first opportunity to silence the hype and remind the skeptics of why he's the reigning MVP on Nov. 12 on ESPN.

It's one of four scheduled games between the Lakers and Thunder, but based on how MVP narratives develop, it should be viewed as an essential encounter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander first encounters Luka Doncic on Nov. 12

The Lakers and Thunder make for an intriguing matchup on multiple levels. Los Angeles is a championship hopeful with two of the best players in the NBA leading the charge in Doncic and LeBron James, as well as a productive player on the rise in Austin Reaves.

With this in mind, it's within the realm of possibility that Los Angeles and Oklahoma City could cross paths during the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

That could prove to be a troubling scenario, as both Doncic and James have the type of track records that suggest they could give the Thunder trouble. James is a four-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, and Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024.

During that trip to the NBA Finals, Doncic and the Mavericks defeated Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in six games—thus providing even more impetus to step up during the 2025-26 season.

As far as the MVP is concerned, Doncic is one of the few players who can match or even exceed Gilgeous-Alexander's production. In 2023-24, he averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 4.1 three-point field goals made on .487/.382/.786 shooting.

If Doncic turns in a season of similar proportions in 2025-26 and the Lakers secure home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs, he could very well win MVP.

Thankfully, Gilgeous-Alexander is no stranger to competing for MVP with a player who posts gaudy statistics. Nikola Jokic will inevitably be back in the race in 2025-26, as will a slew of other elite players, but the reigning MVP has the hardware for a reason.

If Gilgeous-Alexander takes care of business against Doncic and the Lakers, that could go a long way toward enabling him to win a legacy-altering second MVP in 2025-26.