The Thunder resoundingly beat the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. They won the game by 26 points after blowing the game wide open in the fourth quarter.
After Game 1, Michael Malone, the former Denver Nuggets head coach, appeared on ESPN to analyze the Thunder’s win. Malone formerly coached Nikola Jokic, who is competing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the frontrunners of the MVP award race. Malone claimed that this game’s performance showed the world why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to win the MVP award.
He said, “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he’s the MVP. He took over in the second half and did so in a very efficient manner.” Gilgeous-Alexander, who had only 11 points in the first half, finished the game with 31 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds.
An unfortunate stance, a betrayal of his loyalties to Jokic, but the truth remains the truth. Gilgeous-Alexander led the OKC to a historic season for the franchise, and was the best player on the best team (No. 1 seed in the West) in his conference. By simple, objective measures, Gilgeous-Alexander ended the regular season on top of the MVP ladder.
Moreover, he led the Thunder to beat the Nuggets in a series of seven games. If anything, that should prove that he’s playing better than Jokic this season.
What Michael Malone Said About Shai Gilgeous-Alexander When He Was Coaching The Nuggets
Earlier on in the season, Malone took a stance that Jokic deserves the MVP this season, however, he then acknowledged that even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s season warrants him being in the discussion for MVP.
He said, “Obviously, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, and if he wins his first MVP, he’s deserving of that. My thing is this: If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper … the guy that was averaging a triple-double, the guy that is top-three in the three major statistical categories, things that no one has ever done, he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10. And if you don’t think so, I think you guys are all bulls–ting.”
I acknowledge that Jokic had a historic regular season and averaged a triple-double. But by that logic, Westbrook’s season with the Wizards also deserved an MVP award, but they failed to go beyond the first round of the Playoffs.
If recorded stats were the sole merit to decide the MVP, then historically the award would be given to many different people than it eventually ended up with. However, it is the conversion to winning basketball that helps give a player the advantage over another in a close race. And clearly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has contributed more to winning basketball than Nikola Jokic, as the Nuggets finished No. 4 seed while the Thunder were No. 1 (their season series was tied at 2-2).
Therefore, Michael Malone, who initially backed Jokic because he was his “guy” in Denver, has finally realized correctly that SGA deserves the MVP award this season.
