The OKC Thunder have opened up a 2-0 lead over the New Orleans Pelicans in their first round matchup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has carried over his sensational regular-season showings into the playoffs, prompting Chet Holmgren to refer to SGA as the league MVP.
"I got one more thing to say. He's to humble to say but this is the MVP right here, MVP of the league. I will say it for him because he won't say it."
Shai is one of the three finalists for the 2023-24 NBA MVP award, leading the OKC Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the NBA while averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. The other finalists alongside Shai are Denver Nuggets' center Nikola Jokic and Dallas Mavericks' guard Luka Doncic.
Shai is in the midst of his second career playoff appearance, with the first coming in 2020 when the Thunder lost a tight seven-game series to the Houston Rockets in the first round. Shai averaged 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in that series, but is averaging 30.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists through the first two games of the 2024 Playoffs.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Has Tough Competition To Win MVP
Shai Gilkgeous-Alexander completed his emergence into superstardom within two season, with this being the best season of his career so far. The numbers and the record do suggest Shai deserves it, and the Thunder guard is hoping his name is announced when it comes time to hand out the award.
"I hope I get it, yes. I think all the guys are deserving, all have their case. Whatever happens, happens. But whoever gets it is deserving for sure."
Shai openly saying that any of the finalists are deserving winners is a nice touch after serious MVP campaigns by the likes of Joel Embiid in recent seasons which prompted discourse to get extremely toxic. Nikola Jokic has been done with the MVP race after his three-season battle with Embiid over the trophy.
"I think the whole MVP conversation is getting out of control. I think I'm playing good basketball... I think a couple of guys deserve to have the award."
Jokic also said Luka Doncic was his MVP this season, which is fair given how Doncic brought the Mavericks to 50 wins despite most pre-season estimates having them in the Play-In Tournament or outside of the playoffs in general.
Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists on the No. 2 seed Nuggets, who won just one game lesser than the Thunder. Doncic is a fair few wins behind Jokic and SGA, but his counting stats are arguably the most impressive with 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.
All three players deserve the honor and it doesn't look like any of them are spearheading media campaigns to get people to vote them for MVP. This year's race is thrilling, even if many people have already assumed that Jokic will be given the award when the results are announced.
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