The MVP race has been one of the hardest-fought ones in recent years, with players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama vying for the award. Still, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone seems to be certain of his pick, though his response is surprising.
Michael Malone spent 10 seasons as the head coach of the Nuggets, even winning the NBA championship in 2023. For all intents and purposes, it would be safe to assume that due to a personal bias, Nikola Jokic would be his pick. However, on a recent episode of “NBA Countdown,” Malone stunned many by picking Gilgeous-Alexander.
“He’s proven himself to be the best clutch player in the NBA,” Malone justified. “He’s got five game-tying or go-ahead field-goal attempts and makes in the last 30 seconds. So, he’s got a chance to be the first guard ever to average 30 PPG and shoot 55% from the field.”
“You talk about consistency – 20 points, every single night, against a defense that is trying to game plan for you? No disrespect to Wemby, Nikola Jokic, and everybody else. But I think SGA is incredible in his ability to impact the game in all shapes and forms.”
Michael Malone makes a solid case for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander here. The Thunder superstar is truly having a historic season. Along with breaking Wilt Chamberlain‘s long-standing record for most consecutive games with at least 20 points, Gilgeous-Alexander has also redefined offensive efficiency for a guard.
With averages of 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game while shooting 55.3% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range, the Thunder guard is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league. Still, there may be some reason to believe that Michael Malone is snubbing Nikola Jokic.
Is Michael Malone Discarding Nikola Jokic Already?
One would typically expect a former head coach to show more support for a former player, especially if they have superstar status like Nikola Jokic. However, it would appear that Michael Malone is almost actively discarding Jokic from the MVP conversation.
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander undoubtedly has a solid case for MVP, it isn’t like Jokic’s case is much weaker. Although the Nuggets’ relative position in the West (4th) is weaker than OKC’s (1st), and the Thunder secured the season series over the Nuggets (3-0), Jokic has proven himself to be truly dominant this season.
For the 2025-26 season, Nikola Jokic is averaging 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game while shooting 57.2% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. From an advanced statistics point of view, Jokic boasts the highest offensive rating of any player this season (125.6) while also leading the league in triple-doubles this season.
As dominant as Gilgeous-Alexander has been this year with his record-breaking performances, Jokic has matched it. To that note, both Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic have also made convincing cases with the same narrative.
Ultimately, it could be assumed that Michael Malone’s opinion is largely subjective, especially since Gilgeous-Alexander is also considered a favorite to win the award. Given that Jokic’s candidacy currently depends on whether he can play all the remaining games in the season, Malone’s pick may be valid.
