The NBA playoffs have created the biggest stage for the league’s stars. There is nothing clearer this season than the top two MVP candidates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic in the Western Conference second round.
The two have fought against it throughout the MVP game throughout the season, so it makes sense that their team, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets will blend in with each other while chasing the NBA's ultimate goal, the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Despite the hype of the game, the MVP is a regular season award, with both players recording unforgettable seasons in their own unique ways.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the 68-win Thunder into the top seed in the West while averaging 32.7 points per game, while adding 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists to 51.9% shooting percentage. Oklahoma City ranked second in the regular season in one of the most impressive games in recent memory in Game 2 of the regular season.
Meanwhile, Jokic is arguably his best statistical season, while guiding the Nuggets to the fourth seed in the West. He averaged triple-double this season and ended the regular season with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists. If he is going to win the award, it will be his fourth MVP in five seasons, and he will be one of only five players in NBA history, earning MVP honors four times.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo made the MVP finalist after averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists this season.
NBA journalist Tim Bontemps' final MVP straw poll and award votes show that despite it being a tense game, Gilgeous-Alexander held the lead at the end of the regular season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Point Guard | Oklahoma City Thunderbolt
76 Games | 32.7ppg | 5 rpg | 6.4 APG
Nikola Jokic | Center | Denver Nuggets
70 Games | 29.6ppg | 12.7 RPG | 10.2 APG
Giannis Antetokounmpo | Forward | Milwaukee Bucks
67 Games | 30.4 ppg | 11.9 RPG | 6.5 APG
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee Bucks
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
5. Jaylen Brunson, New York Knicks
There are several worthwhile MVP candidates almost every season. This year's game did fall on the final day between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, both of whom are the best players who have integrated an incredible season.
The Thunders were behind Gilgeous-Alexander's league lead by 32.7 points and scored 51.9%, becoming the seventh team in NBA history, winning at least 68 games. Of course, Jokic has a long history of statistics seasons, ranking in the top three in scoring (29.6), rebounding (12.7) and assists (10.2), while overall shooting percentage is 57.6% and 3-point range is 41.7%. Real video game stuff.
This is the quote that the self-burning Nuggets coach Michael Malone has been in my mind as he walks back and forth between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. "If you don't know that Nikola won three MVPs and I put Player A and Player B on paper...he will win 10 times 10 times."
"If you don't think so, you're full of S ---."
Read more about Tim Bontemps’ draft pick to win the NBA’s top individual awards.
In mid-February, ESPN's second in three NBA's most valuable players' straw polls showed that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, comfortable (if not Ironclad) led the Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic.
Six weeks later, the game was barely changed.
If we end up with the straw poll results are accurate – Gilgeous-Alexander will receive his first MVP award in each of the past five seasons. In a poll that reflected the official vote of the league, and was conducted within 24 hours on Sunday and Monday, Gilgeous-Alexander won 77 of 100 votes.
He scored a total of 931 points on the remaining 23 votes, while Jokic finished second with 769. In the second round, the two stars won one of all and second-place votes in the second round of voting in February, this version was a clean scan that didn't happen in the first 19 straw polls since the 2016-17 season.
The advantage in voting is closely related to what the two players show on the court.
Despite Gilgeous-Alexander's lead, Jokic may have brought his best MVP case as well.
Read more about Tim Bontemps on NBA MVP Straw Poll 3.0.