After finishing fifth in MVP voting last season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has made a serious push this season to win the coveted award.
The 25-year-old has averaged 31.3 points on 54.7% shooting, 6.4 assists and 5.6 rebounds. He’s averaging a league-leading 2.2 steals. The All-Star starter has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 32-15 record and a serious shot at finishing first in the Western Conference.
When looking at his resume, Gilgeous-Alexander’s stacks up against anybody’s in the league. The only player who’s had a definitive better season is Joel Embiid.
The reigning MVP is averaging 36 points on 53.9% shooting, 11.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 blocks. The Philadelphia 76ers continue to be title contenders due to the 29-year-old’s phenomenal play.
If Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t win MVP, it could very well be because of Embiid. However, a new NBA rule could boost the former’s odds.
In the offseason, the new collective bargaining agreement included a clause that stipulates a player must play at least 65 games to be eligible for awards. Embiid, who’s had trouble with durability, has already missed 12 games this season, which means he can only miss five more games and remain eligible for MVP.
That’s a tough task to ask of the seven-footer, who’s played 65-plus games in only two of his 10 seasons in the league. This means there’s a very high chance he will not qualify for the award.
Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander has remained durable. He has played in 46 of OKC’s 47 games, which gives him plenty of room to miss action if needed.
If Embiid is out of the way, Gilgeous-Alexander becomes one of the favorites if the Thunder continue to win. Averaging an historically efficient 30 points while playing great defense sounds like an MVP season on paper.
If Gilgeous-Alexander claims MVP, he’ll join Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the only Thunder players to win the award. A pretty rich history of success for OKC considering its tenure since relocation.
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