NBA News: The NBA’s regular season has officially ended. This also means that the votes have now been cast for the individual end-of-season awards, with none more compelling than this year’s Most Valuable Player.
ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith is one of the media personalities who has the privilege of having his voice heard for these individual honors. The outspoken analyst has now revealed whose name he wrote down on his official ballot and apparently, Stephen A. is going for the underdog.
NBA News: Stephen A. Smith Picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as 2023-24 NBA MVP
As of the moment, it’s two-time winner Nikola Jokic who’s the odds-on favorite to take home his third MVP trophy. Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is a distant second, followed by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous Alexander.
Apparently, it’s SGA who’s gotten Smith’s vote (h/t Legion Hoops on Twitter):
Stephen A. Smith reveals he used his official MVP ballot to vote for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/7KMUnWxtKM
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 16, 2024
Smith has long been singing Gilgeous-Alexander’s praises, but it does still come as a bit of a surprise that Stephen A. has actually decided to go against the norm here. The ESPN’s prized anchor probably also has a hunch that SGA won’t be able to topple Jokic for the crown, but this hasn’t stopped Smith from casting his vote for the player who he feels deserves the title MVP the most.
For what it’s worth, in 75 games played this season, Shai has produced averages of 30.1 points on 53.5 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals, while also leading the Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
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