OKC Thunder Players Vying for MVP, DPOY and 6MOY

The Oklahoma City Thunder are no strangers to postseason awards and honors. And there's a solid possibility that this season's squad could end up being the rewarded one in team history.

Over the past 18 years since landing in OKC in 2008, the organization has racked up countless honors. Three Most Valuable Players in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Two NBA Coach of the Years in Scott Brooks and Mark Daigneault. A Sixth Man of the Year in James Harden. An NBA Community Assist Award in Russell Westbrook. An Executive of the Year in Sam Presti. As well as numerous All-NBA and All-Defense team selections. But if I were to list all of those individual achievements, I wouldn't have any room left for the rest of the article.

Just over halfway through the 2025-2026 season, the Thunder boast both the current betting favorite for Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. And Oklahoma City also has the fifth leading odds favorite for Sixth Man of the Year, an honor that has no clear frontrunner. So not only is OKC primed for the potential to rack up the honors, but they are three of the most revered awards in the league.

So what players are going to prove to be the Thunder trio's toughest competition in this year's awards race? And what are the chances OKC can actually take home each trophy?

Most Valuable Player. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear leader in the clubhouse. This was shaping up to be a heated two man race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic for the third consecutive season. Unfortunately, the Nuggets superstar sustained a hyperextended knee that very likely will keep him out of too many games to qualify for postseason awards. The only other contenders are Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards. Victor Wembanyama could sneak in if he meets the games played requirement, but that seems doubtful as well. More on that in a bit. As long as the reigning MVP stays healthy, Gilgeous-Alexander is head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

Defensive Player of the Year. Chet Holmgren is the current favorite to take home a trophy that Thunder players in the past, such as Lu Dort and Serge Ibaka, came close to clinching but fell just short. The big question mark here is whether or not Wembanyama will play enough games. The only other true candidate is multiple DPOY winner Rudy Gobert. But it really feels like it comes down to whether or not the Spurs superstar misses more than 4 games the rest of the way. If he does, Holmgren likely wins it. If he does not, the trophy probably goes to Wembanyama.

Sixth Man of the Year. Ajay Mitchell has been OKC's breakout player of the year and finds himself firmly in the 6MOY conversation. He'll likely see his name floated in Most Improved Player talks as well. Naz Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year winner, is the current favorite but not by much. Keldon Johnson, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Reed Sheppard and Mitchell are all nipping at his heels. This one likely goes down to the wire. If Mitchell can get healthy soon and continue to make a big impact for the league's best team down the stretch, he stands as good a chance as any of the top four candidates.