After spending most of his career languishing in mediocrity, Shai Gilgeous -Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have finally taken their places among the top teams in the league. And according to former NBA legend Gilbert Arenas, this feat should make the All-Star guard win MVP this year.
SGA first entered the NBA as the Los Angeles Clippers’ 11th pick in the 2018 Draft. He would go on to play all 82 games for the franchise, with 73 of them as the starting point guard. During that period, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a measly 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest.
After the front office acquired Paul George from OKC, the sophomore guard was sent to the Thunder to play with Chris Paul. From there, his experience and talent improved exponentially until he has transformed into a credible scorer and playmaker that can generate tons of offense for his team.
This season alone, Gilgeous-Alexander has elevated his game to a whole new level. In 71 games, the Thunder All-Star has posted averages of 30.3 points on 53 shooting from the field, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. He’s also leading the NBA in steals by making 2.1 of them on a nightly basis.
Thanks to his efforts, the Thunder are the top team in the Western Conference with a top three offense and a seventh-ranked defense fueling the team. Of course, at the heart of their success is no other than Gilgeous-Alexander himself.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Should Win MVP, Gilbert Arenas Claims
Along with Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal and NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, Gilbert Arenas has been advocating SGA to win MVP this year. According to a post he shared on his official X account:
This is why SGA is the MVP… pic.twitter.com/Nr4yo7uncK
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) April 2, 2024
Compared to other contenders, the only veterans that can boast playoff experience are Gordon Hayward and Bismack Biyombo. The fact that Gilgeous-Alexander has transformed a team of inexperienced stars into a playoff-bound squad is nothing short of stellar. Plus, he has carried himself as a true leader, which can be seen in how effective the Thunder have been all season long.
Arenas made a great point in his case for Gilgeous-Alexander and the MVP. Of course, all will be known in the coming weeks whether the Thunder star will bag the award, or Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic or Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic will go home with it.
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