Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves consideration for major award (and it's not MVP)

Through four months of play and 56 games of action, OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is viewed as the odds-on favorite to win the coveted NBA MVP award.

Considering he's averaging 32.4 points (leads the league), 6.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor and 36.4 percent shooting from deep, boasting the best box plus-minus in the association by a landslide at +12.9, and spearheading the charge for this top-seeded Oklahoma City squad, this should come as no surprise.

And while SGA's offensive dominance certainly deserves the attention it has received throughout the year, perhaps lost in its shadow is his stupendous production on defense.

Quite frankly, there's a case to be made that his efforts on the less glamorous side of the ball could have him in the running for the league's second-most prestigious full-season individual accolade -- Defensive Player of the Year.

Thunder star deserves attention in Defensive Player of the Year race

The Thunder have established themselves as favorites to win the 2025 NBA Championship primarily because of their dominant defensive play.

As a collective, Oklahoma City ranks number one in the NBA this year in defensive rating (105.0), steals per game (10.9), opponent field goal percentage (43.2), and opponent three-point field goal percentage (33.1) while ranking second in opponent points per game (105.7).

Though he may not receive the attention that his own teammates like Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort tend to get for their contributions, leading the charge on this side of the floor has quietly been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

From traditional stats to advanced metrics, the Thunder star has been absolutely dominant on defense this year.

Among those who have seen 40 or more games played, he ranks second in the league in steals per game (1.9), fifth among guards in blocks per game (1.1), and first among starters in defensive rating (103.7) while holding opponents to lackluster shooting splits of 42.7 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from distance and 720 total turnovers (best mark in the NBA).

Interestingly enough, one could even argue that Gilgeous-Alexander's sensational offensive numbers have been directly influenced by his defensive excellence, as he's managed to generate a whopping 309 points off of turnovers, equating to 17 percent of his total points scored this year.

Take them away, as his standing in the points department sees him fall from first in the league down to fourth.

As things currently stand, the Thunder cornerstone sports the fifth-best odds of winning the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award at +3,500.

With this, and Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. being the clear favorite to take home the honor (+120), the chances of him joining Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only other player to win MVP and DPOY in the same season in the 21st Century seem rather slim.

Nevertheless, it goes without saying that recognition for his two-way play is more than deserved. Hopefully, voters will show him said recognition during awards season.

At the very least, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should be heading toward his first All-Defense Team selection.