It’s a Canadian thing 🇨🇦
20 years later, SGA joins Steve Nash as a back-to-back NBA MVP 🤝 pic.twitter.com/DqtBNco19P
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2026
The Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star received back-to-back MVP honors Sunday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, becoming the 14th player in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons. He also joins rare company with Nash as the only Canadians to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards.
The connection goes beyond nationality. It’s about how each player helped define his era of basketball.
April 11, 2005; Los Angeles, CA; FILE PHOTO: Phoenix point guard Steve Nash drives the ball upcourt during the Suns’ 108 – 97 win at Staples Center. Phoenix currently has the best record in the NBA as it rolls into the post-season. Nash had 15 points and 16 assists in the game. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Network
Nash’s MVP seasons from 2004-06 transformed the Suns into the league’s most influential offense. Phoenix pushed tempo, spread the floor and emphasized ball movement in ways that were unconventional at the time. Nash became the engine of the “Seven Seconds or Less” era, elevating teammates and helping reshape NBA offense.
In today’s game, Gilgeous-Alexander has become the modern evolution of that influence.
The Thunder star dominates differently, relying on pace, footwork and relentless control of the midrange and paint. In a league built around the 3-point shot, Gilgeous-Alexander thrives by dissecting defenses and dictating tempo possession by possession.
Apr 25, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives past Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) in the second half during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Like Nash, Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact has turned a Thunder roster into a contender while making him the centerpiece of one of the NBA’s defining teams.
That influence feels familiar in Phoenix.
Nash’s style was once questioned by critics who favored more physically dominant stars, but the modern NBA ultimately evolved toward the principles he helped popularize. Now, Gilgeous-Alexander carries a similar reputation as a player whose value extends beyond the highlights.
Nov 21, 2004; Los Angeles, CA; FILE PHOTO: Phoenix point guard Steve Nash leaves his feet as he drives past Los Angeles’ Shaun Livingston during second half action of the Suns’ 122 – 111 win at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Network
With the Thunder star’s back-to-back honors, his rise also reflects Nash’s lasting legacy in Canadian basketball. When the former Suns guard won his MVPs, a Canadian leading the basketball world felt unfamiliar. Now, Canada has become one of the sport’s premier talent pipelines, and Gilgeous-Alexander stands at the top.
From Nash in Phoenix to Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City, two generations of Canadian guards have helped shape what NBA greatness looks like.