Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Candid About MVP Chances

The 2024 NBA MVP race will be as close as any in recent memory.

Early in the season, it appeared as if Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid would be the latest star to win back-to-back MVP awards. With the Oklahoma City Thunder surging up the Western Conference standings and staying there, 25-year-old guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander began garnering praise as an MVP candidate. Injuries would knock Embiid out of the discussions but Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent dominance kept him in.

In the back half of the season, a scintillating stretch by Dallas Mavericks sensation Luka Doncic led to him being a potential first-time MVP. At the same time, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic picked up the pace. Now, Jokic could very well win his third MVP award in four seasons, joining elite company.

Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Candid About MVP Chances

While Jokic and Embiid chafe at being mentioned in those debates, Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t shy about his desire to win his first MVP award.

“I hope I get it, yes,” Gilgeous-Alexander says, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I think all the guys are deserving, all have their case. Whatever happens, happens. But whoever gets it is deserving for sure.”

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, a Coach of the Year candidate, also spoke about the MVP race.

“I have great respect for everybody,” Daigneault says.

“I’m not a voter. I don’t study all the players. I do see one of (the MVP candidates) every single night. There is not a night where I don’t feel like we have the best player on the floor. We’re a top-five defense, top-five offense. He’s a two-end player that contributes to both of those things.”

“It takes 18 guys to do that… But when you look at what he did this year, what seeds he’s planted in previous years, there’s no one I’d rather have on our team than him.”

“I think his consistency, his poise, his confidence has had an unbelievable contagious effect on one of the youngest teams in the league,” Daigneault adds, “one of the youngest teams in history to accomplish what this team accomplished.”

After the regular season finale, the young Thunder clinched the No. 1 seed in the West, adding to his MVP résumé. Indeed, Jokic is still the name most often mentioned. However, he doesn’t have many arguments over Gilgeous-Alexander with the Thunder being first in the West.

SGA or Joker?

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points last season, the third-highest average in the NBA. He also averaged 6.2 assists per game. Meanwhile, Jokic averaged 26.4 points and 9.0 assists per game. Jokic’s assist average was the third-highest in the NBA.

At the other end, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 2.0 steals per game last season, second in the NBA. He led the NBA in total steals (150). Jokic averaged 1.4 steals per game, 13th in the NBA.

Gilgeous-Alexander leads Jokic in points, steals, and win-loss record. Jokic has the edge in points produced from assists, rebounds, and true shooting percentage. Gilgeous-Alexander also has the larger gap between him and his team’s next highest scorer. Consider that Gilgeous-Alexander outscored Jalen Williams by +11.0 points per game. For comparison, Jokic outscored Jamal Murray by +5.3 points per game.

In the end, popularity may lead to Jokic winning the award. Yet, it would be a legitimate MVP snub. Jokic has a strong MVP case. It’s just not objectively stronger than Gilgeous-Alexander’s.