The Oklahoma City Thunder have been on a tear recently, winning 14 games straight. On Friday, NBA writer Shaun Powell released his updated NBA MVP ladder, with Nikola Jokic ranking first. However, with how this season has unfolded, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should be the front-runner for MVP.
Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Should Be Front-Runner For MVP
On Another Level
In this 14-game win streak, the Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander have been on a different level. He averages 33.1 points per game, shooting 37.3% from three and 55% from the field. In addition, he has added 5.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He has taken over since Chet Holmgren went down with an injury and never looked back.
Leading the Thunder to the Best Record in the West
Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander led the youngest team ever in NBA history to the number one seed. Unfortunately, that did not bring him his first MVP award. The award went to Jokic for the third time in four seasons. This year, there were big expectations for Oklahoma City. Once again, Gilgeous-Alexander is leading this young team in a competitive Western Conference to the first seed in the West. They are 29-5 and have a 6.5-game lead over the second seed.
The two-time All-Star has helped the Thunder be on pace to win around 70 games. Depending on how long this win streak lasts, they could come close to the 73-win Golden State Warrior team. This has all happened with the team never being 100% healthy. Holmgren has only played in 10 games this season. What Gilgeous-Alexander has been doing this season under these circumstances has been remarkable. The NBA should reward his accomplishments with the MVP.
He is a Two-Way Player, Not Just a Scorer
A lot of people think that Gilgeous-Alexander is just a scorer. However, that is not the case, as he is more than just a bucket-getter. Even though people who vote for the MVP don’t usually consider defensive statistics as much as offense, the big advantage Gilgeous-Alexander has over Jokic for MVP is his defense. He averages the fourth most steals in the league, grabbing 2.0 per game, to pair with 1.1 blocks (second-most amongst guards). His ability to impact that side of the court shouldn’t go unnoticed.
The fact that he isn’t just a scorer was proved again last night against the Knicks. When Gilgeous-Alexander usually takes over and is more aggressive in crunch time, he was a passer instead. He tried to find Aaron Wiggins down the stretch as he had the hot hand, making four huge threes in the final quarter. As the leader of the Thunder, he found the hot player, and that unselfish play led to a win.
He Has Been Mr. Consistent All Year
Last year, Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with the most 30-point games in the season. This year has been no different, and he is at the top again with 19 games of 30 points. It doesn’t seem like the guard ever goes through a long stretch of bad games. If he has a bad game, he quickly responds with a great performance. In addition, he was named Western Conference Player of the Month in back-to-back months. Finally, he is also on pace to become the second player in NBA history to average 30+ points on 50% shooting, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 2+ steals, and 1+ block. The other player to accomplish this stat line in a season was Michael Jordan.
The Last Word on Why Gilgeous-Alexander Should Be NBA MVP Front-Runner
What Gilgeous-Alexander has done this year with the Thunder has been remarkable. Jokic is also having a great season as well. However, their team is only 19-14 and is the fifth seed in the West. The NBA has already rewarded Jokic with three MVPs; it is time for the league to recognize someone else’s accomplishments and achievements. If Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t win this year after everything he has achieved this season, the NBA should reconsider how they evaluate players for the MVP award.
