Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Addresses Most Valuable Player Race

The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar understands each player's case to win the Most Valuable Player award.

Apr 14, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The end of the NBA regular season is here. Each franchise navigated their 82 games, offering a wide variety of storylines. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of those storylines was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, once again, playing at an MVP level.

While he finished No. 5 in Most Valuable Player voting a season ago, he wasn't in the active running for the award as the Thunder finished No. 10 in the Western Conference. This year, things have changed. Gilgeous-Alexander maintained his production while the Thunder jumped to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

The best player on the top team in the best conference, the 6-foot-6 superstar is naturally near the top of the MVP race for the season. After the team secured the top seed in the West while blowing out the Dallas Mavericks in the season finale, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke of the award and the race around it.

"I hope I get it, yes," Gilgeous-Alexander claimed. "I think all the guys are deserving, all have their case. Whatever happens, happens. But whoever gets it is deserving for sure." 

Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander made an arrival, averaging over 30 points per contest while helping the Thunder back to playing competitive basketball. This year, the team followed suit, winning 57 games en route to the top seed. The Kentucky product continues to play at an elite level on both sides of the ball, and his case has been made on it's own.

Still, two-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic, who led the Denver Nuggets to a 57-25 record is also in the thick of the race -- once again. The two are joined by Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, who helped his team post a 50-32 record.

Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per contest in 79 appearances. One of the edges Gilgeous-Alexander has over Jokic is having won the regular season series, beating the Nuggets out for the No. 1 seed via way of tiebreaker. Voter fatigue is very real, and this could hurt Jokic, depsite another season of incredible success and insane numbers.

While Jokic is more than deserving to win the award, Doncic's case is strong as well. He averaged 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game -- numbers that would easily have him win if the Mavericks won more games or his defensive impact is incredible.

Gilgeous-Alexander's incredible numbers and impact on both sides of the floor will have him likely finishing top three in the MVP voting, and there truly is no wrong answer when the MVP is announced.

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