Alexander, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo were the only players to appear on every MVP ballot

Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Wednesday on TNT from Madison Square Garden, ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Pacers. He averaged a league-best 32.7 points per game for a Thunder team that won 68 games and claimed the league’s No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 68-win season, beat out fellow finalists Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.