Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning MVP would not be a “sympathy award” as he put up dominant numbers and led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top seed in the Western Conference by a landslide.
Demonstrating high-level and signature individual performances that have directly translated to team success, making SGA the favorite to win his first MVP.
SGA Deserves to Win the 2024-25 MVP Award
Historical Statistical Season
Gilgeous-Alexander has once again taken his game to the next level. He’s having an all-time guard season, averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, five rebounds, 1.7 steals, and one block per game while shooting 51.9% from the floor, 37.5% from three, and 89.8% from the free-throw line.
Resulting in leading the league in scoring. Here’s SGA’s historic scoring resume through 80 games this season:
- 72 consecutive games of scoring 20+ points (tied for the 2nd longest streak over the last ten seasons)
- 4 games of scoring 50+ points
- 13 games of scoring 40+ points
- 49 games of scoring 30+ points
- 8 games with less than 25 points
SGA is having one of the best guard seasons in modern NBA history and is on pace to be the first guard since Michael Jordan to average 30 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game on 50% shooting from the floor in three consecutive seasons.
Impact On Team Success
The Thunder are having a special season and have set the franchise record for most wins in a season and the most double-digit wins in NBA history (52), surpassing the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers.
Gilgeous-Alexander deserves immense credit for helping the Thunder secure not only the best record in the Western Conference but also the best record in the league.
In a season where key core players of the team have missed large stretches of the season, he’s had to shoulder the load, as his leadership and on-court production have been the main driving force for OKC’s success.
For instance, Oklahoma City is a +12.1 when SGA is on the court and a +1.1 when he’s off the court, a +11 on/off differential.
That point differential reveals a great deal about how SGA has set the tone for his team on both ends of the floor.
The advanced metrics are also in his favor, as he leads the NBA in plus-minus (+918) and wins shares per 48 at (.3093).
Second in VORP (Value Over Replacement) at 7.2 and second in PER (Player Efficiency Rating) at 30.7, both behind Nikola Jokic.
SGA has once again improved his game, leading the Thunder to the best net rating (+12.6), the No.1 seed in the Western Conference, and the best overall record (66-14) in the NBA.
Dispelling The “Sympathy Award” Narrative
This year’s MVP has been a two-person race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic for the majority of the season.
Both players are having special seasons as, SGA is leading the NBA in scoring on the best team in the league, and Jokic is averaging nearly a 30-point triple-double.
It is disingenuous to see a good portion of the NBA community using Jokic’s individual statistical numbers to tear down the season SGA is having and spread this false narrative of him potentially winning the MVP a “sympathy award” because of voter fatigue.
Winning is what matters most when playing the game, and every athlete will tell you that.
Watching SGA lead his team to the No.1 seed in a loaded Western Conference and the best overall record in the NBA, given the circumstances and multitude of injuries that this team has endured, should speak volumes.
SGA checks all of the boxes for MVP: dominant statistical individual numbers, team success, and availability.
His efficiency and unselfishness, along with the confidence he instills in his teammates, have led to a very successful season.
Signature Performances Against Elite Teams
All of the past MVPs have signature moments and performances. SGA has multiple signature performances as his play against the top teams in the league should not be undersold:
SGA is averaging 34.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks, on 52/39/89 shooting splits against the top teams in the NBA.
The MVP raises his play against elite teams, and SGA also checks that box.
End Of The Season
With only a couple of days left of the NBA regular season, both players have made their statements. Their signature performances against one another in their back-to-back on March 9 and 10 had huge implications on both sides of the narrative.
That said, Gilgeous-Alexander should be the favorite to win his first MVP, and winning the MVP would not be a “sympathy award.”
Main Image: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
