Tyrese Haliburton Doesn’t Hesitate When Naming NBA MVP

By the way things are looking, it would appear that the NBA will have another international superstar holding the league MVP trophy when it’s all said and done. International stars have taken over the NBA, and it just goes to show that basketball talent and gifting are growing in quality and quantity in other parts of the world. Steve Nash was the last Canadian player to win the MVP and won the award twice. But another Canadian is on the cusp of winning his first, and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has no hesitation in naming Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as this year’s MVP.

Tyrese Haliburton Doesn’t Hesitate When Naming NBA MVP

If Players Could Vote, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Would Be the NBA’s MVP, per Tyrese Haliburton

The back-and-forth battle for MVP rights this year has waged between SGA and Nikola Jokić. The Joker already has three MVPs to his name, which is remarkable. It would be even more remarkable if he were to nab his fourth. However, much like it has all season long, the scales appear slightly tipped in Gilgeous-Alexander’s favor. The Canadian has dominated the entire season, as has his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re far above the best team in the league and win games in dominating fashion, usually by double digits. SGA has posted a stat line of 32.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. He’s shooting 37.2% from three and 52.1% from the field.

It’s not just SGA’s personal stats that have him in line to win the MVP, but it’s what the Thunder have done all season—how good they’ve been on both ends of the floor, with the league’s best record. It’s the fact that the Thunder are the NBA’s best team, and that has Haliburton solely in SGA’s corner.

“I grew up in an era where the best player on the best team wins MVP every time. I think our era is kind of getting away from that a little bit, which is fine, because I think Jokic and those guys are warranted when they win.” 

“But I think you take away them (OKC) having the best record, he (Shai) would still be the MVP, and then you throw on the fact that he has the best record, he kind of makes it an easy decision. I don’t have a vote, but if you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win.”