Giannis made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP case much more obvious at All-Star Game

At an event filled to the brim with championship-tested players and sure-fire future Hall of Famers, OKC Thunder cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still proved capable of having even the best talents basketball has ever seen become star-struck.

Back in the locker room during Sunday night's illustrious NBA All-Star Game, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't help but gush over the 26-year-old's all-around abilities on the floor, as he joked about how he hopes simple physical contact with his Global Stars running mate will have something of a Monstars effect on him.

"Just shake my hand. I just want a little bit of aura. That's all I want," Antetokounmpo said.

Now, while these comments could easily be viewed as mere friendly and highly complementary chatter among peers, with the MVP race seemingly becoming more complex as the season rolls along there's an argument to be made that this exchange might actually bode well for SGA's odds.

In fact, one could say that Giannis' praise may have made the Thunder stud's case to come away with the award much clearer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo gives Thunder star high praise amid MVP pursuit

With two league-MVPs and an NBA Finals MVP attached to his resume, it's more than evident that Antetokounmpo is well versed in what it takes to receive such coveted honors.

Because of this, along with his ridiculous per-game production of 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks on 60.8 percent shooting from the field, many are of the belief that the Bucks star could be a realistic threat to swipe the Michael Jordan trophy away from Gilgeous-Alexander come the conclusion of 2025.

However, even with all of his past experience, insane statistics on the year, and outspoken desires to add another MVP to his already Hall of Fame-worthy credentials, it's apparent with his remarks that he's still envious of the type of player the Thunder guard has become.

In other words, even a legitimate contender for the award like Giannis sees a gap between himself and the current odds-on favorite to be crowned the league's most valuable commodity, and it's easy to see why.

Despite not having the smooth-as-silk offensive game that Luka Doncic boasts or the box-office swagger and highlight-reel dunk packages that Anthony Edwards does, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is undoubtedly in the conversation for being the most well-put-together player the league currently has to offer.

Through 53 games played heading into the All-Star break, the seventh-year phenom finds himself sporting astonishing averages of 32.5 points, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor and 35.9 percent from distance.

To put into perspective just how special this type of productivity is, SGA is currently on the cusp of becoming the only player outside of Michael Jordan to drop at least 31.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals while shooting 50 percent or better from the floor on a nightly basis for an entire year.

And it's not as if these are empty statistics, as they've helped spearhead the charge for Oklahoma City to not only retain their status as top dogs in the Western Conference standings from a season ago but, also, register in with the best record in the league at 44-10 while subsequently leading the team to the best net rating of all time at 13.5.

Yet, considering he projects as having a rather quiet and non-flashy demeanor, there are legitimate fears among Thunder fans that his lack of draw from the media could have a negative impact on his voting totals come awards season -- after all, a collection of sportswriters and broadcasters are the ones who decide a player's fate in such categories.

Excitingly enough, however, Giannis' comments on the Thunder star suggest that his peers and, in some instances, even superiors within the league understand just how special of a player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is.

Hopefully the media has taken note!