Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a phenomenal 2023-24 season and it has led to his name being in the MVP conversation. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in this campaign, and his numbers are similar to what Michael Jordan’s averages were when you combine all five of his MVP seasons.
Jordan has the edge when it comes to rebounds and steals, but that is it. They are tied when it comes to points and Gilgeous-Alexander comes out on top for assists, blocks, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, and effective field goal percentage.
Now, obviously, it was harder to put up those numbers in Jordan’s era, but it still highlights just how impressive Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2023-24 campaign has been. His numbers rivaling that of Jordan’s was brought up to Gilgeous-Alexander earlier this month and the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar feels honored by the comparisons.
“It’s an honor, to be in those conversations if I’m even in them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s why you play the game and what you dream about as a kid, so it’s an honor. Obviously, I have a long way to go before I get to even be in the same conversation as him, but it’s an honor.”
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Gilgeous-Alexander sure has a very long way to go. To go with the five MVPs he won in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998, Jordan also has six titles, six Finals MVPs, and 10 scoring titles to his name. He is still widely regarded as the greatest of all time and LeBron James is the only other player in contention for that title.
While I don’t believe Gilgeous-Alexander will ever be in the same conversation as Jordan, he does have a shot at establishing himself as the next great scoring guard in the NBA. The consistency with which he scores is not something we have seen from too many in league history.
Gilgeous-Alexander has played 64 games this season and has scored 30 or more points in 48 of them. The two-time All-Star is on pace to hit the 30-point mark in 60 games this season, which is simply incredible.
To put that into context, if he does accomplish that, Gilgeous-Alexander would become just the fifth player in NBA history to have recorded 60 or more 30-point games in a season after Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Nate Archibald. That’s definitely not bad company to be in.
Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Win MVP In 2023-24?
Gilgeous-Alexander’s exploits have resulted in the Thunder sitting atop the standings in the West with a 45-20 record. Normally, this level of team success coupled with his incredible numbers would have him as the MVP favorite, but that’s not the case.
Nikola Jokic is having an incredible season of his own, with averages of 26.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. His Denver Nuggets also have a 45-20 record and Jokic is the frontrunner as of now.
Unless Jokic and the Nuggets fall off drastically from here on out, I don’t see Gilgeous-Alexander winning MVP. That seems rather unlikely too, as Denver has won nine of its last 10 games. A third MVP for Jokic seems almost inevitable at this point but I suppose you never know what might happen.
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