Stephen A. Smith made it clear that he refuses to let the MVP conversation shift away from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Nikola Jokic’s historic 30-20-20 performance. During a heated segment on NBA Countdown, Smith shut down any talk that Jokic’s incredible stat line should alter the MVP race, stating that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the frontrunner.
“You’re not doing that today. You’re not doing that today, Big Perk. I’m telling you that right now. We’re not going to do this today. Jokic is big time. The top-five argument? I’m not disagreeing with it. I get all of that. But we ain’t doing that today.”
“We ain’t going to start this narrative where all of a sudden Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is compromised for league MVP again, like he was last year.”
“Since February 1st, America—look at me, America—don’t look at me. Since February 1st, the Oklahoma City Thunder are an NBA-best 15-2. Okay? I’m looking at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander right now—he leads the NBA with 32.8 points per game, okay?”
“In the calendar year, four 50-point games in 2025. Oh, by the way, averaging 34 on 51% shooting, 43% from three-point range.”
“We ain’t gonna do this. Oklahoma City is the number one seed. Everybody’s looking up—way up. You got to climb a ladder. We’re not doing this to SGA. SGA is gonna be the league MVP if he keeps this up. I don’t care what Jokic does.”
The video:
"I don't care what Jokic does" https://t.co/lSboBW84L7 pic.twitter.com/RGRnYliaoy
— n i k o l a e s t h e t i c (@nikolaesthetic) March 9, 2025
Smith pointed to Shai’s dominance in 2025, highlighting that since February 1st, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the best record in the NBA at 15-2. More importantly, SGA is leading the league in scoring, averaging 32.8 points per game while putting up four 50-point performances this year.
Smith emphasized that SGA is leading the No. 1 seed in the West, making it clear that unless something drastic happens, Shai should be the MVP favorite.
As the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder faced off, the game perfectly encapsulated the MVP battle between Jokic and SGA. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Thunder held a 94-88 lead, with Shai recording 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. However, he was struggling with efficiency, shooting 11-28 from the field and just 1-10 from three-point range.
Jokic, despite injuring his elbow earlier in the game, posted 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, shooting 8-21 from the field and 1-9 from three. While neither player had an elite performance efficiency-wise, their impact on their respective teams was undeniable.
Statistically, Jokic is putting up one of the most dominant all-around seasons in NBA history, averaging 28.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.6 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 57.7% from the field and 43.9% from three-point range. He ranks third in points, third in rebounds, second in assists, and fourth in steals, making his case for a third MVP award.
Meanwhile, Shai is leading the league in scoring, averaging 32.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 52.6% from the field and 37.8% from three. He also leads the NBA in 30, 40, and 50-point games this season, further solidifying his MVP candidacy.
The Thunder currently hold the best record in the West at 52-11, with the Nuggets trailing at 41-22. This gap in team success plays a significant role in the MVP conversation, as voters tend to favor the best player on the best team. If OKC maintains the No. 1 seed, SGA’s MVP case will only get stronger.
While Jokic’s 30-20-20 game is an all-time great performance, Stephen A. Smith and other analysts are not ready to move Shai out of the MVP conversation just yet. If the Thunder continue their dominance, SGA may be on his way to his first MVP award, despite Jokic’s brilliance.
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