The NBA is already pushing out its MVP projections, and as of Friday, OKC Thunder cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits atop the list.
The superstar guard's level of play to begin the year hasn't gone unnoticed, as he's carried a significant load while co-stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have battled injuries.
Winning a second MVP in a row would put SGA among truly elite company.
Only 13 players in league history have ever accomplished this, including legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell.
Thunder star could enter into elite class of MVP winners
While Shai has put himself in the middle of early MVP talks, this award won't come without competition.
Right behind him on the list are guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, two big men who have already won consecutive MVPs themselves.
This season, Jokic is doing what he now seemingly does every year: averaging a triple-double (25.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 11.5 assists).
Giannis, meanwhile, has carried the Bucks to a 6-4 record while averaging 33.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, while ranking second in the league in usage (minimum 15 minutes per game and two games played).
Other competitors in the hunt for the award include Luka Doncic, Tyrese Maxey, and Donovan Mitchell, all of whom are averaging over 30 points per game and have their respective teams up towards the top of the standings.
It's clear that the NBA isn't lacking in star power this season, so the award will most likely come down to small details.
According to multiple interviews conducted by Fox Sports in 2023, three common words arose as major factors when making the decision: winning, impact, and dominance.
Of the three frontrunners, it's difficult to determine who has the biggest impact on their team night in and night out.
All three players are everything for their team.
If Thunder fans are being honest, Jokic and Giannis might mean more to their teams than Shai does. We've seen how well OKC plays as a team, and critics rave about their depth and ability to win games without key stars -- yes, that includes Shai.
OKC was 5-1 last year in games SGA sat out. Meanwhile, Denver was 4-8 without Jokic, while Milwaukee went 8-7 without Giannis.
When people think of Jokic and Giannis, the word dominance obviously comes to mind. However, Shai might have the edge here -- depending on how you define the word, of course.
Shai's ability to take over in clutch situations might break a close tie here.
He's averaging the most points in clutch time so far this season, with 3.6 more than the next closest player who's played in more than a single clutch-time game.
Jokic is 5.6 behind him, and Giannis is 7.6 behind.
We may not know who has the edge in the winning category until the end of the regular season, as each of these teams is proving to be extremely competitive. As of right now, however, the Thunder have the clear advantage with how dominant they have looked.
Having lost just one game, OKC is playing like a well-oiled machine despite the fact that half its roster is seemingly banged up each night.
Even though there are still several months left to go in the season before a projection like this truly carries any weight, it's an indicator of why the Thunder currently have the best record in the NBA.
Shai's ability to flip the switch and be the MVP this team needs in crunch time is unparalleled, and it is getting recognized by more than just Oklahoma City fans.