SUMMARY
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led OKC to the second seed in the Western Conference standings.
- He is currently averaging 31.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had a spectacular season so far. It doesn’t seem like the young superstar has a ceiling, and he’s just getting started. SGA has been one of the only stars in the league who has shown true desperation to win a title and be at the top of the league. It was clearly stated on his Instagram post following an incredible 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend. He does not want to settle for being second at anything.
Statistically, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard has improved every year. His first two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers were not the best as he averaged 13.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. But since joining the Thunder, his contributions have drastically increased. This season, he has been averaging 31.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game on 54.8 FG%.
Shai is putting up similar numbers to MJ’s 1987-88 MVP season 👀 📈 pic.twitter.com/J0NcCiZXBf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 28, 2024
During an MVP season, Michael Jordan averaged just about the same. The 6x NBA Champion put up 35 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 54 FG%. SGA has averaged 2.1 steals while MJ put up 3.2 steals per game during his MVP year. During the 2022-23 season, Shai finished fifth in MVP voting.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helps OKC tie the Timberwolves’ record
In the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with an impressive 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists stat line. Since returning to the regular season, SGA has not scored less than 30 points in either of his appearances. The Thunder have achieved a 3-1 record with one loss coming from a game against the Houston Rockets.
OKC managed to record a comeback victory against Houston in a back-to-back run. SGA finished with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists during the game. This helped OKC tie the Minnesota Timberwolves’ record of 41-17. The Wolves currently hold the top spot in the Western Conference. However, the Thunder could overtake the Wolves before the end of this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in the MVP race
This year, the KIA MVP race has been extremely competitive. Joel Embiid initially had the best chances of winning his second consecutive MVP award averaging 35 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. He was the clear winner of the award this season before injuries stripped him of his spot on the leaderboard. The NBA requires players to appear for at least 65 games to qualify for regular-season accolades.
Who’s your 2024 NBA MVP? pic.twitter.com/lr3tSQyi3k
— noah📡 (@kayvonbanks25) February 24, 2024
Now with Embiid out of the way, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has moved up a spot in the MVP leaderboard. Nikola Jokic ranks first in MVP odds averaging 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game. The only areas SGA tops Jokic are in scoring and his team’s overall record. With SGA in second place, Luka Doncic ranks not too far behind. But it will ultimately come down to who the media chooses as the MVP.