The Oklahoma City Thunder have a real MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With him leading the way, they are currently the top seed in the Western Conference with a 48-20 record.
Winning his first-ever MVP at the end of the regular season would mean a lot to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, if you ask head coach Mark Daigneault, he believes that Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t need to win it to validate his incredible 2023-24 campaign.
“What he’s done in his career to this point, and what he’s done for our team this season, doesn’t need to be validated by an award,” Daigneault said via Clemente Almanza of the Thunder Wire.
“It stands on its own two feet. If he wins it, great. And that’s downstream of our team and him. But if he doesn’t win it, it doesn’t take anything away from the impact that he’s had or the player has turned himself into,” he added.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season, and where he ranks in the NBA MVP race
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a career season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. On top of averaging 30.9 points per game, he has also posted career-high norms in rebounds (5.7), assists (6.3), steals (2.0), and field goal percentage (54.4%).
Earlier this year, the 25-year-old Canadian international was named a Western Conference starter for the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in his NBA career. He has now made it to the All-Star team in back-to-back seasons.
In the latest NBA MVP Ladder released by Michael Wright, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander maintained his second-place ranking behind Nikola Jokic.
Last season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished 5th in voting for the MVP award despite the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 40-42 record, which was good for the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
With so many viable candidates this season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faces stiff competition for the MVP award. But he can make a strong case since he has been the best player for the best team in the Western Conference.
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