Shai Gilgous-Alexander shows why he may be the best in the league
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads from the front as the Oklahoma City Thunder take sole possession of the Western Conference, strengthening his claim as MVP frontrunner
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the sole leaders of the Western conference, just half a game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets with just over a month left in the regular season. Nothing is decided, far from it. But there are few teams; in fact none apart from the Nuggets themselves; who feel more serious, tough, and like true contenders than the Thunder. They haven’t led the West at this point in the season for a decade. A very young team, they have a leader who is fundamental to their success, playing as if he were a hardened veteran. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making a firm case for his taking the MVP award home to Cananda.
2018 was the last year that saw an American, James Harden, win the MVP award. Since then, a Greek (Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2019 and 2020), a Serbian (Nikola Jokic in 2021 and 2022) and a Cameroonian (Joel Embiid in 2023) have won it. This year that streak could be broken by Jayson Tatum with the Boston Celtics, or perhaps Jokic could repeat. And even Anteto is in with a shout, in the middle of an outstanding season with the Bucks looking to be poised for a comeback. But if the Thunder should finish first in the West, Shai would be the firm frontrunner.
The truth is that no matter how Oklahoma’s season ends, it would still be possible for their Canadian point guard to be named MVP because his season has been monumental. On Sunday night in Phoenix, SGA led his team to victory after an ugly loss in San Antonio. Prior to that, the Thunder were on a six win streak. With the top of the West all bunched up, a misstep now could be fatal. But Gilgeous-Alexander led from the front, putting up 35 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 blocks and 3 steals. Hard to argue with that performance.
Youth, for the Thunder, is not at odds with cold blood and steel nerves. Unlike the Wolves, the other young contenders, who consistently lose their cool in the waning minutes, Oklahoma has shown that they can remains calm, grinding out the same thing that got them there, notching up win after win, showing resolve beyond their years. And of course, having Shai on your team helps. This young lad from Toronto is a somewhat old-fashioned NBA superstar. He understands basketball, using economy of motion, not relying on the three-point shot, he looks as if he belongs to another era. And here in 2024, he is triumphant. The second highest scorer in the league had another spectacular game, even more so from a 25-year-old who wants it all.