SGA: MVP frontrunner?

As we approach the NBA’s All-Star Break, fans are getting ready to watch the league’s best players share a weekend of basketball action. Many discussions will be had, as those same fans discuss whether each All-Star is worthy of their selection, who was “snubbed,” etc. But, a specific topic will start to resurface at the midseason event.

Who is the current front-runner for the Most Valuable Player award?

There are some great candidates this season. Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic is in the mix for his fourth MVP win. Milwaukee Bucks’ dominant forward Giannis Antetokounmpo might snag his third. Maybe Boston Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum earns his first honor. However, there’s one player that has separated himself as the clear leading candidate for the award.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Let’s set the scene. Many could argue Gilgeous-Alexander should’ve won last year, despite finishing as the runner-up behind Denver’s Jokic. Shai finished third in the NBA in points per game with 30.1, while Jokic was tenth at 26.4. He was also great at getting to the free-throw line, as he was the NBA’s leader in free throws made (567) and runner-up in attempts (649). That’s an 87 percent clip. Jokic was 15th in both makes and attempts.

Another area Gilgeous-Alexander shined last season was defense. He was tied for the NBA’s lead in total steals (150) and steals per game (2.0) with Sacramento Kings’ guard DeAaron Fox. Jokic ranked 13th in steals per game and eighth in total steals. If you want to factor in winning, Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder finished with the Western Conference’s best record, one spot ahead of Jokic’s Nuggets.

But that was last year, and now we’re onto this year. In the 2024-25 season, he’s turned it up a notch. His complete averages thus far are 32.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block. He’s shooting 52.8% from the field, 35% from three-point range and 90.4% from the free-throw line.

His points-per-game mark is not only a career-high, but the best in the league this season. His 1,463 total points rank first in the league as well. His steal and block averages tie career highs from past seasons, and he would lead the NBA in steals per game if it wasn’t for Atlanta Hawks’ guard Dyson Daniels.

On the advanced and miscellaneous side of things, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in the NBA in usage percentage (33.5%), fifth in points in the paint per game (14.3) and second in mid-range field goal percentage (52.3%).

But why else should he get your vote? He showcases the fact that he’s a scoring machine every single night. His lowest point total of the season is 18 (on October 30th against the San Antonio Spurs). He achieved his career high in points on January 22nd when he scored 54 points against the Utah Jazz, and he scored 52 against the Golden State Warriors exactly one week later. His 54-point game was the fifth-highest-scoring game so far in the NBA this season.

One last thing, his efforts have Oklahoma City slotted in the top Western Conference spot with a 37-9 record, only two wins behind the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.

While there’s still time for others to prove their case, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has done a large amount to separate himself from the other candidates as one of them. We’ll see if anyone else can steal his thunder, pun intended.

Adam Pietrzak is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email app5940@psu.edu.