Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks, who were severely injured, 135-86 to secure their top spot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave an honest interview about his prospects of winning MVP at the end of the regular season. He acknowledged that other contenders were deserving of the honor as well.
According to the NBA website, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished the season with an average of 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He is the main reason the Thunder have risen over Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets in the standings.
This may cause many last-minute votes to go Shai’s way. Even if Luka Doncic’s stats are perhaps the best of the three, his team record is too poor to support him receiving the honor.
Although small margins will likely determine the winner of this three-horse MVP race, Jokic now appears to have the advantage. Although Shai’s ascent to the top seed might push him back ahead of Doncic for the No. 2 spot on the MVP ladder, it may be difficult for him to overtake Jokic.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Impact Is Better Than Jokic’s on the Nuggets
Doncic was on the same level as him this season, having shared the All-NBA First Team with him the previous season, even if SGA’s output is still lagging behind Luka’s. Despite a string of injuries to colleagues like Kyrie Irving, Doncic averaged 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists this season, helping the Mavs to 50 victories.
With Jokic averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists this season, the No. 1 seed is probably guaranteed to win MVP without even considering it. Given how highly voters have regarded his efforts throughout the season, he still ought to be the front-runner, but Shai has a solid case for opposing Jokic.
The MVP competition’s results will be intriguing, and perhaps they will inspire the two players who fall short of winning the award.
