WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 16: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after hitting the game winning shot against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on November 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said that the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is his MVP pick for the 2024-25 season. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points in another awe-inspiring performance Wednesday, leading Oklahoma City to a 113-105 victory over Edwards and the Timberwolves.
“He’s consistent every night,” Edwards said. “His team gonna give him the ball and just let him rock out every night. It’s nothing to think about. ‘Hey, get Shai the ball and he going to get busy, and then we’re going to figure it out after that.’ I love watching that. It’s incredible, man. If he is keeping him like that, I hope they give [MVP] to him this year for sure. I feel like he should have won it last year, but he’s playing out his mind right now.”
Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in MVP voting behind Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic last season, finishing with 30.1 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists. This season, he is scoring 31.2 points per game, putting up nearly identical stats across the board while leading the Thunder to a 25-7 record, five games ahead of the next team in a stacked Western Conference. Oklahoma City has long been considered the team of the future, and that team is now a frightening force in the West.
As the best player on an undeniable championship contender, Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP case is only gaining momentum as he sustains an elite performance level season over season. Voter fatigue is an undeniable factor, but the only difference between Gilgeous-Alexander’s case last year and this year is that the Thunder have gained more territory in the national conversation. He remains the same player, one that was likely deserving of the award a year ago.
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Edwards is a phenomenal player in his own right, slowly maturing into a leader on a young and sometimes aimless Timberwolves team. But recognizing Gilgeous-Alexander as the league’s best player is an affirmation that the future is squarely behind him. At this rate, his ascension seems inevitable.
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