The NBA will reveal its Most Valuable Player award winner Sunday night during Amazon Prime Video's pregame show, strategically timed one day before the Western Conference finals begin. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seeks to become the first player since Russell Westbrook to repeat as MVP, while facing fellow finalist Victor Wembanyama in Game 1 Monday.

Nikola Jokic joins the MVP race as he pursues a fourth trophy, which would place him alongside only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James in NBA history. The winner continues an unprecedented international streak, marking the eighth consecutive season an overseas-born player claims the award. Wembanyama would become the first French MVP winner if victorious.

This announcement timing mirrors last year's pattern when Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP on May 21, presented before Game 2 of the West finals. The scheduling suggests the league may be positioning another Thunder-related celebration, though the Spurs' rookie sensation has captured global attention with his historic two-way impact this postseason.