Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the best pick to win the MVP this year. But is consistency enough to fuel SGA’s MVP campaign to the finish? His return to the court showed that OKC really needs him more than any other player on the floor. True enough, when they needed him to step up, SGA delivered and crushed the competition.
With just a few more missed games before he becomes ineligible for end-of-season awards, SGA is managing his injury and playing the games where OKC needs him most. So far, it’s been fascinating from the reigning MVP, and he is still a sure-fire lock to repeat by the end of the season. The fact that he’s missed games and is still playing at a high level consistently is just absurd.
The Pinnacle Of Consistency: SGA’s MVP Case is Truly Majestic
Look no further than his recent battle against the New York Knicks, currently playing at near-full strength. In a time when the rest of the Thunder were struggling to consistently shoot buckets, SGA stepped up. He was even flexing his handles when he iso’d OG Anunoby at the top of the key before stepping back for a dagger three. That would seal the deal for OKC, and it just shows how much the Thunder need him to go up against the best teams in the league.
I just don't think some get how important the shotmaking from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is to the Thunder. pic.twitter.com/wxvLL0Vspw
— Steve Jones (@stevejones20) March 5, 2026
Shai Hasn’t Lost His Touch
Three games in since his return from an abdominal injury, SGA remains consistent. All those games have been wins, and OKC has gone 8-2 in its last 10. Two of those three came against contenders — in the Knicks and the Nuggets. He never scored below 20 points and remains efficient from the field. In fact, he’s still shooting at 55.1%, which is definitely staggering for a guard with a high usage rate.
His playmaking has been impressive as well. Sure, he’s averaging 6.5 dimes in the season, but in the games against Denver and New York, he had nine and eight, respectively. That says a lot about the level of play that adds more to SGA’s MVP case. He’s even setting a career high in true shooting percentage at 66.6%, and that’s absolutely next level.
SGA this season:
31.7 PPG
6.5 APG (career-high)
1.4 SPG
66.6 TS% (career-high)On pace to join Steph as the only players in NBA history to average 30+ PPG on 65+ TS%. pic.twitter.com/uZBANwp3iZ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 5, 2026
The fact that he just outplayed Nikola Jokic in their showdown is a huge plus for his MVP campaign. Then beating a fellow guard in the MVP ladder in Jalen Brunson is definitely another statement. That was doubly impressive considering OKC isn’t at full strength. He’s not dropping his play at any rate, and it continues to be his majestic season after another.
What’s Next for SGA?
Right now, there’s plenty of work ahead for Gilgeous-Alexander. Last year, he easily dominated as the Thunder were steamrolling through one team after another. They definitely had some rough injuries this year. The most notable injured players are Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, who have missed out on a huge chunk of games. This just means that SGA has to carry a whole lot of load along with Chet Holmgren to make it work for the Thunder.
As of the time of writing, OKC is at 49-15, and is pacing to be the first team to reach 50 wins once more. However, there’s little separation from their rivals, such as the San Antonio Spurs and even the Detroit Pistons — who are both three games back. The fact that Oklahoma City still has the best record in the league, even with all their injuries, is underrated.
Richard Jefferson on SGA:
"He's like Jokic as a guard. After a while its like 'wait, is this dude one of the greatest of all time?' Is he putting on one of the greatest stretches.? We need to take a moment and give some appreciation to what he's able to do" pic.twitter.com/UlR3umxxOP
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 4, 2026
However, SGA now has to continue the work and prove that the Thunder is still the best team in the NBA. This means leading the way moving forward, and showing his worth as the MVP. Availability is the best ability, and Gilgeous-Alexander has got to be there to push OKC to the limit. Now that’s a majestic case for the MVP.
Featured Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
