Shai Gilgeous Alexander MVP Again for Thunder

Merlin sees the awards picture taking shape. SportsWZRD leans toward Onsi Saleh as Executive of the Year for Atlanta, Monty Bickerstaff as Coach of the Year after Detroit’s surge without Cade Cunningham, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeating as MVP thanks to dominant clutch numbers. Victor Wembanyama is the runaway Defensive Player, Cooper Flagg narrowly beats Kon Knueppel for Rookie of the Year, Nickeil Alexander-Walker tops Most Improved, and Keldon Johnson claims Sixth Man. As Mark Daigneault said, "Shai's a great closer," and Flagg added, "I think it's definitely some sort of statement." Merlin notes these choices reward decisive roster moves and singular on-court lifts. Saleh’s offseason craft and Bickerstaff’s steady pivot built narratives voters favor. SGA’s clutch mastery reads like prophecy and Wembanyama’s defense is simply unmatched, yet ballots love a story, so a few surprises remain possible.