OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has looked like a lock to win his second consecutive MVP award all season long, but the rise of Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham has caught the NBA's attention.
The combination of Cunningham's ascension and Shai's recent injury woes has created some movement in the debate.
The former first overall draft pick came in at third in ESPN's most recent MVP polls.
While SGA still holds a commanding lead, he is flirting with joining the likes of Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic in not being eligible for the award.
Thunder need Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to get back on the court
In 2023, the NBA introduced a 65-game minimum requirement for a player to be eligible for end-of-season awards consideration, including MVP, meaning a player would have to miss at least 18 games to be excluded.
Gilgeous-Alexander has missed eight so far, with six of them coming as a result of his current abdominal injury. With the most recent update revealing that he will be re-evaluated in a week, it does not appear that he will be back in the immediate future.
Mark Daigneault only raised more apprehension among Thunder fans when he spoke about how SGA's MVP eligibility wasn't a concern of his.
"I'm thinking about the Thunder," Daigneault plainly said.
It's clear Daigneault and company are more worried about hoisting another Larry O'Brien Trophy than any individual awards, and it's likely their franchise player shares that sentiment, though Shai's recent injury isn't doing him any favors in the legacy-building department.
Cade Cunningham putting pressure on Shai from the East
Many questioned Detroit's legitimacy early on in the season, but, over halfway through the season, star point guard Cade Cunningham has his team positioned atop the Eastern Conference.
Detroit is one game behind Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA, and it is largely because of what the former OSU star has done.
Cade has established himself as one of the league's premier players, averaging 25.5 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.8 rebounds this year. The next highest scorer on the Pistons is averaging over 7.0 points less than him.
Cade's dominance, combined with Detroit's surprise top-dog status, might be enough to earn MVP votes when all is said and done.
Even if Shai stays over the 65-game minimum, the Pistons' shock factor might be enough to tip the scales.
One thing is certain, though: the MVP race is far from over, and it is closer than many thought it would be just a few short weeks ago.