Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC chooses not to comment on the MVP competition.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander smiled when questioned about the MVP discussion late Monday night.
This moment followed days after San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama publicly made a three-part argument for his candidacy, hours after Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick advocated for Luka Doncic to receive the award, and moments after Gilgeous-Alexander capped off a 47-point outing to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-110 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons.
“I think it’s beneficial for the league. It generates good conversation,” stated Gilgeous-Alexander, the current MVP. “It gives people something to discuss. There are numerous talented players in this league, and many are part of the conversation because of that.”
Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander prefers not to contribute his own thoughts to the discussion.
“No, I’m fine. I appreciate you asking, though,” Gilgeous-Alexander replied. “Yeah, I’m fine. I let my performance speak for itself.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance has been impressive throughout the season, as he has guided the defending champion Thunder to a league-leading 60-16 record despite prolonged injury absences for several Oklahoma City rotation players, including All-NBA wing Jalen Williams. He ranks second in the NBA in scoring with an average of 31.6 points per game, trailing only Doncic, while achieving a career-best shooting percentage of 55.3% from the field and averaging a career-high 6.5 assists per game.
With Williams and starting center Isaiah Hartenstein sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back, the Thunder required an extraordinary closing effort from Gilgeous-Alexander to secure a win against the Pistons, the top team in the Eastern Conference that was missing four starters, including All-Stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
Gilgeous-Alexander either scored or assisted on all but one of Oklahoma City’s baskets after re-entering the game with 6:57 left in the fourth quarter. He contributed 21 points and two assists for three-pointers during the fourth quarter and overtime, enabling the Thunder to overcome a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation.
“Often, I try to let the game unfold naturally,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who shot 12-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-5 in the fourth quarter and overtime. “I aim to play within the flow of the game, responding to what it demands, and tonight I felt it was necessary to take charge. I needed to be aggressive. I needed to make plays. I needed to score, specifically.”
Gilgeous-Alexander made what would have been a go-ahead stepback three-pointer with four seconds left from the right wing, a shot reminiscent of the decisive basket he made against the Golden State Warriors and a game-winner he hit against the Denver Nuggets earlier this month. However, the shot was disallowed when official Phenizee Ransom called Gilgeous-Alexander for an offensive foul, determining that he used his off arm to push off before taking the shot.
This was one of the rare calls involving Gilgeous-Alexander that Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff concurred with. Bickerstaff spent a significant portion of the game engaged in animated discussions with the officiating crew while Gilgeous-Alexander went 21-of-25 from the free throw line.
“He’s exceptional at what he does,” Bickerstaff remarked. “You have to give him a lot of credit for his skill set and his ability to draw contact and earn those fouls. There are rules for a reason, and he has mastered the art of manipulating them. That’s a talent, a skill that he possesses. We need to continue to play physically. He shot 25 free throws, while we attempted 23. That’s tough to overcome.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault commended his team for managing to “re-center” after the pivotal call against Gilgeous-Alexander and secure the win in overtime. Daigneault praised how Gilgeous-Alexander responded to a “choppy” game to excel in the critical moments.
“He has the ability to struggle in a game, and then in an instant, he’s back in rhythm,” Daigneault said. “That’s what occurred in the fourth. When he returned, he had a different energy with his playmaking and scoring. Many players can have off games, but he can navigate through a game with the best of them.”
Like Gilgeous-Alexander, Daigneault showed little inclination to contribute to the MVP race discussion. According to Draft Kings, Gilgeous-Alexander is the frontrunner with -300 odds, followed by Wembanyama (+225) and Doncic (+1500).
“I believe the voters take that very seriously and analyze it thoroughly,” Daigneault stated. “They observe all the players more than I do. I focus on one player. I have certainly expressed my thoughts about him multiple times, but it’s beyond our control. He goes out there, plays, concentrates on what he can manage, stays within the team, and then the outcomes will unfold as they will.”
Thunder forward Alex Caruso added: “Just watch the games. He had a game-winner against the top seed in the East called off tonight and scored 47. His performance speaks volumes. There’s not much more I need to say for him.”
