Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is putting together a standout MVP season in 2024-25, finally having his first 50-point game in the NBA tonight against the Utah Jazz, scoring 54. In a surprisingly close 123-114 win, Shai took over to deliver this win for the league-leading OKC Thunder.
Gilgeous-Alexander played it cool in his post-game interview, deeming this night as nothing special while focusing on the team’s greater ambitions this season.
“I was just trying to be aggressive and make the right basketball play. From there, I just trust the work. No different from any other night. I had a few more points tonight, but nothing special.”
"Had a few more points tonight, but nothing special."
Shai's keeping the focus on the work after his first-career 50-PT game 💯 pic.twitter.com/FKelv0ytkN
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander knows now is not the time to stop and smell the roses. While he should celebrate the first 50-point game of his career, his focus on the process will be what fine-tunes his mindset for Playoff basketball. The team has an unselfish style but everyone recognizes that Shai is unmatchable when it comes to scoring.
His full stat line from tonight emphasized why he’s leading the MVP race this season. He had 54 points (17-35 FG), eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks in this win over the Jazz. The Thunder needed everything Shai gave them tonight to beat their surprisingly feisty opponents.
Shai is averaging 32.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists this season. With the Thunder’s impressive 36-7 record this season, it seems like a given that Gilgeous-Alexander will be crowned MVP at the end of the season. Players like Nikola Jokic are giving him a run for his money, as Jokic is averaging 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists in one of the best individual seasons of his career.
If anyone asks Shai about being the MVP, he’s bound to give a diplomatic answer downplaying his desire to win the award but every player wants to be the league MVP. The recognition might not be as important as winning a title, but every player aspires to be MVP caliber while also getting that recognition with the award.
The Thunder are currently still without Chet Holmgren, so the return of the shot-blocking machine who can shoot threes is bound to supercharge the lineup for the second half of the season. OKC might be unstoppable this season, but that wouldn’t be the case if Shai didn’t emerge as arguably the best player in the NBA right now.
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