Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could become OKC Thunder's third NBA-MVP

Kevin Durant in 2014. Russell Westbrook in 2017. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2025.

Assuming that Gilgeous-Alexander Nasen Nikola Jokic runs out for this year's most valuable player Award, SGA will be the Thunder MVP winner in the past 12 years.

This is a pace with an MVP Pro ca..

Production of three different MVP winners in any Time period is rare enough. Only the rockets, Lakers, Celtics, 76 and soon future thunder did it. But three in a period of 12 years are unprecedented. Until now.

Remember that eight franchise companies are still looking for their first MVP: the grizzlies, hornets, magic, networks, pacers, pelicans, pistons and raptors.

Many small market teams among them. Oklahoma City is the outlier in the 17th season on the third -clammy market of the NBA.

No team ever had an MVP trio like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in such a faster. And that doesn't even count James Harden, a Thunder Draft Pick who won an MVP with the Rockets.

Here are the five teams – and yes, we are in thunder that produced three MVPs. Sorted by the span between the awards, from longest to the shortest.

Rakets: Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, James Harden (1982 to 2018, 37 years)

Malone won three MVPs: two in Houston (1979 and 1982) and one in Philadelphia (1983).

Twelve seasons to Malone's MVP season in Houston won Hakeem Olajuwon his first and only MVP. Olajuwon ended the top 5 in MVP six times.

Harden was the third rocket in 2018 that MVP won. He finished second in the MVP vote the year before and in the year.

Three rocket MVPS in 37 years.

Lakers: Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant (1990 to 2008, 19 years)

A fourth laker, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, won in 1976, 1977 and '80 MVPS, but we see the shortest span in which a team had three MVPs. For the Lakers, the Magic – who won the last of his three MVPs in 1990 – Shaq (2000) and Kobe (2008).

Three Lakers MVPs over a distance of 19 years.

It was 17 years since the Lakers had last had an MVP. The Lakers had no MVP in the existence of the thunder.

Celtics: Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens (1957 to 1973, 17 years)

Cousy and Russell went in a row in 1957 and 1958. Russell won again in 1961, 62, '63 and '65. Dave Cowens became the third Celtic in 1973, the MVP won. Cous's victory against Cowens' victory comprised 17 seasons.

Larry Bird then won three consecutive MVPs from 1984 to 86. But the range between Cousy, Russell and Cowens, the MVP won, was shorter than that of Russell, Cowens and Bird.

The Celtics did not win most players, the MVP won – this award belongs to the team below – but they have the most combined MVPS (10) among their winners.

Five for Russell, three for birds and each for Cowens and Cousy.

76: Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone (1968 to 1983, 16 years)

Five Sixers have won MVP: Wilt Chamberlain ('66, '67, '68), Erving ('81), Malone ('83), Allen Iverson ('01) and Joel Embbiid ('23)

This is the best of every team. They combined for seven MVP awards that are less than the Lakers and two less than the Celtics.

The shortest span of three Sixers gains -MP was 16 years, from Chamberlain in 1968 to Malone in 1983.

Chamberlain and Malone have won both MVPs with two organizations. Chamberlain's first MVP came in 1960 with the then Philadelphia Warriors. Malone won in 1982 and '83 with the Rockets and '83 with the Sixers. Malone was also the MVP from 1979 as a rocket.

Thunder: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2014 to 2025, 12 years)

Not to Jinx SGA (the ballots have been brought into play for a long time), but he will win.

He will be the third thunder in the last 12 years that MVP wins.

Sam Presti should probably have that in his resume. Presti designed three MVPs in Durant, Westbrook and James Harden – who won his MVP in Houston – and exchanged for another in SGA.

NBA teams with several MVP winners

76 (5): Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Allen Iverson, Joel Embbiid

Celtics (4): Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, Larry Bird

Lakers (4): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant

Rockets (3): Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, James Harden

*Donner (3): Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Dollars (2): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giannis Antetocounmpo

Bulls (2): Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose

Spurs (2): David Robinson, Tim Duncan

Sonnen (2): Charles Barkley, Steve Nash

Warrior (2): Wilt Chamberlain, Stephen Curry

*Suppose SGA wins MVP

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Do you have a story idea for Joe? E -mail him jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support JOE's work and other Oklahoman journalists by buying A Digital subscription today at subcribe.oklahoman.com.