NBA MVP without an ink! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues the tattoo-free trend for ninth straight season | NBA News

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Photo by Kyle Phillips/AP file

On May 22, 2025, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the NBA’s Most Valuable Playeraward before Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves kicked off. NBA commissioner Adam Silver was present there to present the trophy in front of a roaring crowd.With Alexander receiving the award, an interesting fact surfaces across the internet stating that the 2024-25 season is the ninth straight in a row to have an MVP without atattoo.

---

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses three-time MVP Nikola Jokic with a huge margin to become the NBA’s next MVP

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showcased a marvellous performance throughout the season to win the much-deserved MVP award. Other contenders in line include the former three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, former two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James and Cade Cunningham, among others. Amidst all these players, Alexander emerged to be the winner with 71 votes in his favor.Alexander received the prestigious Michael Jordan Trophy ahead of their second game in the Western Conference finals.While fans are hyped with their favorite player winning the most sought-after title, another fun fact resurfaces across the internet stating how the 2025 season gives out yet another MVP without a tattoo, marking the ninth straight season in a row. Tattoos are symbolic in nature, and athletes across different sports categories resort to them in order to represent a particular ideology within themselves. The rest of the NBA MVPs without a single bodily inscription are Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The last player to have won the MVP award with a tattoo was Stephen Curry for the 2015-16 season. Even though Westbrook has kid’s names tattooed on him, it was after the player was declared an MVP. Westbrook got his tattoos in the year 2020 and he was awarded the NBA’s MVP much before, during the 2016-17 season. Reacting to the list that went viral, one of the users wrote, “Westbrook has his Wife’s name and kids name tattooed… he did it Father’s Day 2020”Another user wrote, “Which one is the most surprising not having tats? Low key Jokic seems like he would be tattooed. Also Brodie. Harden in third. Everyone else not surprising. Shai is too wholesome for tats.”“Real hoopers are back in style”Also read: LeBron James makes NBA history, breaks Michael Jordan’s longstanding MVP record with latest milestoneHaving won the MVP award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t intend to slow down his pace. The player plans on giving his best in generating more wins for his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.