Stephen A. Smith Says New Orleans Pelicans' Opponent OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander As NBA MVP Candidate

A legitimate NBA MVP candidate will visit the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Friday evening.

On Friday's ESPN First Take episode, Stephen A. Smith says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander "is a league MVP candidate. Top three or four, as far as I'm concerned." New Orleans will have a platoon of defenders guarding Gilgeous-Alexander at the Smoothie King Center tonight.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 17 games versus the Pelicans in his career. New Orleans limited him to 20 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in OKC's last match against the Pelicans on Nov. 1., 2023.

Jan 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

"I mean, first and foremost, you got to take care of SGA. It starts with him," Jordan Hawkins told reporters. "Then we once we play him, play him well,...we definitely got bodies for him to stop him."

Ross Lovelace wrote, "Oklahoma City's superstar has a legitimate case for the 2023-24 MVP Award." Compared to last season, he's improved his field goal percentage from 51% to 54.6%, averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.3 steals.

Defensively, he has a league-leading 98 steals and 33 blocks compared to only 112 steals and 65 blocks the entire 2022-23 season. Also, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA with 3.6 deflections per game.

He's definitely in the competition to hoist the Michael Jordan Trophy at the end of the season.

New Orleans Pelicans will host the Oklahoma Thunder tonight at 7 PM CT tip-off inside the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans has a 53.3% probability of winning the game.  

The Thunder are 2nd in the Western Conference with a 31-13 record. New Orleans has posted a 26-18 record, standing 6th in the conference.