Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished in second place in the NBA MVP voting behind Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on Wednesday.
As expected, some think the Thunder guard was robbed of the trophy after the season he's had – including Shaquille O'Neal, who said so on Inside the NBA:
Said Shaq, “Which team has the number one seed, a better record? I felt Shai [Gilgeous]-Alexander deserved it, because I've been number 2 a lot. And I played my ass off, so the fact that he has to start all over next year and try to win it again, I know that's going to be hurtful for him. Hopefully, he uses this to motivate him and win a championship.”
The TNT crew did push back a little bit on O'Neal's argument, making the case for Jokic as a stat-stuffer on a Nuggets team that had an identical record as the Thunder, but Shaq felt that Gilgeous-Alexander had done enough for the Thunder to take home the award.
Thunder fans are weighing in as well.
Russ' TD – “You are still my NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous Alexander”
Bazley – “Bogus.”
MBA – “SGA GOT ROBBED”
FollowerofX – “Nobody should be surprised the wrong guy got MVP again. It's the NBA standard.”
Tone – “SGA for finals MVP”
Russ Dimes – “Shai Gilgeous Alexander this season : 30.1 PPG 5.5 RPG 6.2 APG 2.0 SPG (led league) 53% FG | 35% 3P | 87% FT To add to that : #1 seed Led league in total points Absolute robbery”
TF – “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will NOT be the 2023-2024 NBA MVP He will still become a league-high 4th Thunder player to finish top-3 in MVP voting over the last decade ”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder open up strong against Mavericks
After earning the top seed in the NBA Western Conference Playoffs, the Thunder made quick work of the New Orleans Pelicans, sweeping them in four games. They don't look to be slowing down anytime soon.
The Thunder showed out in Game 1 of their second round NBA Playoffs series against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
Offensively, Oklahoma City was led by Gilgeous-Alexander with 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Chet Holmgren had 19 points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots, and Jalen Williams used a massive fourth quarter run to finish with 18 points on the night.
Williams scored eight straight points for the Thunder in a massive run that put Oklahoma City ahead 102-87, and the Thunder controlled the game from that point forward.
The Thunder set an Oklahoma City playoff record with 29 assists as the ball was moving effortlessly around the court, both on the perimeter and with OKC players finding cutters in the paint.
The Thunder and Mavericks will be back at it in Game 2 from Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
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