With the 2026-27 NBA season not far away, the MVP race is already getting attention. Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a chance to make history this season. However, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst believes history could make that difficult. 

Shai is aiming for his third straight MVP award. But Windhorst said even another great season may not be enough for Shai to win again. He explained that winning three straight MVPs is very hard because voters often set a much higher standard for the third award.

.“There’s something that happens, you can win 2 MVPs in a row but for some reason the standard for winning the third in a just gets very very high,” Windhorst said. 

In a clip shared on X by Jay Takes of the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst said he believes winning two straight MVPs can change how voters look at a player. He mentioned players who came close to winning three straight awards and how some of those races became very controversial.

“The last guy to win 3 MVPs in a row was Larry Bird. By the way, most of the contested/hot button MVPs were when guys were trying to win their third,” Windhorst said. “Michael Jordan won in ‘91 & ‘92, and Barkley won in ‘93. That has been debated for years. LeBron won 2 in a row twice.”

This history shows why Shai’s possible three-peat could become one of the biggest MVP debates of the new season. 

Windhorst did not say Shai cannot win the award. However, his comments show how difficult it will be for Shai to win three straight MVPs. If he does it, he would become the first player since Larry Bird to achieve the feat.

Shai faces strong competition for another MVP

Shai could have a tough path to another MVP award. Several other NBA stars are expected to challenge him for the award. Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, and Jalen Brunson could all make the race very competitive.

Shai still has the numbers needed to stay in the MVP race. Fadeaway World’s report by Nico Martinez highlighted his averages from last season: 31.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game on 55.3% shooting.

The Thunder’s team record could also play an important role. If Oklahoma City finishes near the top of the Western Conference, it could help Shai’s MVP case. Another poor playoff result, however, could give voters more reasons to choose someone else.

So, the new season will be about more than Shai repeating his strong numbers. He will need to stay dominant and stand out from the other top MVP contenders.

Windhorst’s comments show that Shai’s three-peat would be a major challenge, but it is still possible. If Shai wins three straight MVPs, he would join Larry Bird in a very special part of NBA history.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

Know more