The OKC Thunder have found themselves at the center of attention during this final stretch run of the regular season.
The privilege has not come without competition.
Legitimate threats in the West have vied for headlines for the past month. There's a difference between them and the Thunder, however, in the fight for the spotlight.
The Thunder don't crave it.
This apathy for attention has been on full display over the past few days, as both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and head coach Mark Daigneault have literally gone out of their way to not vouch for why the Thunder superstar should take home the MVP award.
When asked to make his case, Gilgeous-Alexander politely declined, saying, "I'll let my game do the talking." Daigneault later followed suit, electing to compliment the voters on constantly doing a tremendous job instead.
The headman would later double down on his MVP aversion when he interrupted himself in the middle of complimenting his star to stress he wasn't associating his words with "any sort of award."
Thunder competitors aren't taking notes from their superior
This kind of professionalism stands in stark contrast to the rest of the league, which has demonstrated an impulsive tendency to put its foot in its mouth as of late.Â
The antics began with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who lobbied for himself to win this year's MVP award. The act was followed up by teammate Keldon Johnson making his case for Sixth Man of the Year.
Later that same week, Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Reddick lobbied for his star, Luka Doncic, for MVP.
The recent campaigning for awards and recognition has created a trend among playoff teams, and the Thunder appear to be in a league of their own as a byproduct.
OKC's mindset represents an integral advantage that has nothing to do with basketball. Their ability to stay focused on the task at hand has been on full display since last season, which culminated in their first-ever championship.
The inability of these rival clubs to let their play do the talking could be their downfall come playoff time, where the smallest advantages get magnified. Even an ounce of focus in the wrong place could make the difference.
OKC might need such an advantage this postseason, as their stiffest competition might also be the team making the most noise. The Spurs, the new kids on the block, may be showing their hand in the maturity department, as they appear to be just as focused on awards as they are on winning.
Whether that plays a factor in a potential highly anticipated playoff series with the reigning champs is up for debate.