5 ways Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can win 2024-25 NBA MVP
By Mark Nilon
It is widely believed that OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was robbed of the 2024 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Despite posting Michael Jordan-esque numbers and guiding Oklahoma City to the best record in the Western Conference at 57-25, the point guard finished second in the running for the illustrious honor behind Denver Nuggets big, Nikola Jokic.
Now, though the sour taste of second place may still be fresh in the mouths of Thunder fans and team personnel alike, hope for brighter days is certainly alive and well.
Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, many are predicting that justice will finally be served, as ESPN recently revealed that among the coaches, executives, and scouts that took part in their latest predictions piece for the coming season, Gilgeous-Alexander is tabbed as the favorite to win league MVP.
As we witnessed in his previous run, even having the exact right credentials to be crowned such a title won't necessarily guarantee such an outcome. However, there are certainly several things the 26-year-old can look to do throughout the coming year that will only strengthen his claim for the storied hardware.
Ways Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can win 2024-25 NBA MVP
1. Average over 30 points per game
Since 2015-16, only three guards have gone on to win the league's Most Valuable Player award (Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden), all of whom sported scoring outputs of 30 or more points per game during their respective runs.
This type of offensive production is generally necessary for sub-6-foot-6 players, for, unlike the likes of other recent winners such as Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, backcourt talents aren't generally going to be pushing for other stand-out metrics such as 25+ point, 10+ rebound or near triple-double (Westbrook being the lone exception) averages.
In an offensive-driven modern game, eye-catching scoring outputs are what draw attention. Fortunately for SGA, someone who, though well-rounded, does not fill out the stat sheet, he's no stranger to such scoring feats, as he's averaged 30 or more points in each of his last two seasons.