It is reasonable for Alexander to win the MVP, but the American local players have not won the MVP for seven consecutive years

On May 22, May 22, 2025, the NBA officially announced that the core player of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shea Gilgers-Alexander, was elected the 2024-2025 regular season MVP. This result is both reasonable and triggered discussions about the highest personal honor that the local American players missed for seven consecutive years. Alexander's election marks a new era in the NBA, with international players becoming the dominant force in the league.

Alexander's MVP season was perfect. This season, he averaged 31.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 51.3%, and a career-high 38.7%. What's even more amazing is that he led the young Thunder to the second place in the Western Conference, and this team with an average age of only 24.3 years old played amazing team basketball under his leadership. Alexander performed particularly well at critical moments. In the last five minutes of the game, he averaged 7.1 points per game and shot up to 53.6%, making him the league's well-deserved "Key Mr." in the league.

The Canadian defender's growth trajectory is an inspirational example. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets at the 11th pick in the 2018 draft and was then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. After spending his rookie season with the Clippers, he came to the Thunder as part of the Paul George deal. The Thunder was in the reconstruction period at that time, and Alexander was highly expected. He has not failed the team's trust and has been steadily improving every year, growing from a promising rookie to an All-Star player to a current MVP-level superstar. This season, he has raised his personal performance to a new level and led the Thunder to return to the ranks of Western Conference strong teams after many years.

Alexander's success was not accidental. His technical characteristics are perfectly in line with the development trend of modern basketball: excellent ball-holding and breakthrough ability, stable mid- and long-distance shooting, excellent passing vision and top defensive awareness. What is even more commendable is that the leadership and maturity he showed on the court far exceeded his age. Thunder head coach Mark Degnot once commented on him: "Shay has an innate winning gene, and he is pushing himself and his teammates to become better every day. "

However, Alexander's MVP also continues a notable phenomenon: this is the seventh consecutive year that international players have won regular season MVP. The last American player who won the MVP dates back to James Harden in the 2017-2018 season. This phenomenon has triggered extensive discussions on the American basketball talent training system. Some experts pointed out that international players tend to be more solid in basic skills and team awareness, while American players rely more on physical talents and personal abilities. In a modern basketball system that emphasizes teamwork and comprehensive technology, the advantages of international players are being magnified.

Starting from Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2018-2019 season, to Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and now Alexander, international players have completely dominated the MVP selection. The four players are from Greece, Serbia, Slovenia and Canada, and their success proves that the globalization trend of basketball is unstoppable. NBA President Adam Xiao Hua once said: "Basketball is becoming a truly global sport, and the rise of international players makes our league more exciting. "

It is worth mentioning that the competition for MVP this season is extremely fierce. Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics all performed at the MVP level. Jokic averaged quasi-triple double-double with 26.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game, leading the Nuggets to be the first in the Western Conference; Doncic continued to refresh people's expectations with his amazing performance of 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game; Tatum led the Celtics to the best record in the league. In the end, Alexander stood out with his more comprehensive performance and greater influence on the team.

For the Thunder, Alexander's MVP is of great significance. The team, which once owned Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, finally ushered in a new leader after years of reconstruction. Thunder general manager Sam Presti's long-term team building plan is bearing fruit. The team not only has superstars like Alexander, but also has potential young players such as Chet Homegren and Jaylen Williams. Under Alexander's leadership, the Thunder is expected to become a strong contender for the championship in the next few years.

Alexander's success also injected new vitality into Canadian basketball. As the second Canadian player to win an MVP after Steve Nash, Alexander is inspiring a new generation of Canadian basketball teenagers. Canadian basketball has emerged in many talents in recent years, with players such as Jamal Murray, Andrew Wiggins, RJ Barrett, etc. all performing well in the NBA. At the 2023 Men's Basketball World Cup, the Canadian Men's Basketball Team won the bronze medal, creating the best record in the team's history. It can be foreseen that under Alexander's leadership, Canadian basketball will make a bigger breakthrough in the international arena.

For the NBA, the rise of international players is both an opportunity and a challenge. On the one hand, this has greatly expanded the NBA's global influence and brought more international fans and business opportunities to the league; on the other hand, how to balance the development of international players and local American players and maintain the characteristics of the NBA as the American professional sports league is also a question that the league needs to think about. However, from the current perspective, the excellent performance of international players has undoubtedly improved the quality and viewing of the game.

Alexander's MVP also marks the NBA's entry into a new era of competition among all the heroes. Unlike the period when Jordan, Kobe and James ruled the league, there is no absolute ruler in the current NBA. Many international players and local American stars together form the league's top star group. This diversified competitive landscape makes the game more exciting and brings more discussion topics to fans.