With the NBA season reaching the All-Star break, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear leader in the MVP race.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Gilgeous-Alexander holds -500 odds, making him a firm favorite to earn the honor. He’s positioned himself well by guiding the Thunder to a 44-10 record, averaging 32.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s reliability for the Thunder this season has been remarkable. He’s only missed one game and has a 44-9 record when in the lineup. Oklahoma City has produced a staggering 18.4 net rating in the 1,804 minutes he’s played. The Thunder tend to dominate when he’s on the floor, even despite Chet Holmgren missing 41 games due to injury.
Nikola Jokic has won three of the league’s previous four MVP awards and is the only player within striking distance at +350. With the Denver Nuggets holding the third-best record in the Western Conference at 36-19, Jokic’s case has strengthened. He’s producing historic stats, averaging 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists.
With the Thunder leaving the Nuggets in the Western Conference standings by 8.5 games, it remains to be seen if Denver can close the gap more, considering how well Oklahoma City has sustained its success. It would require a very significant run by Denver, too.
There is a massive gap between the next candidate, with Giannis Antetokounmpo being +8000 and Jayson Tatum at +20000. Given how improbable every other candidate’s outlook stands, it’s become a two-player race, with Gilgeous-Alexander having a comfortable lead over Jokic.
As long as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sustains his production and stays healthy, and the Thunder continues to win, he’s on a trajectory to win his first MVP honor. There is little reason to believe that the rankings will change, considering just how much of a stronghold Gilgeous-Alexander currently has on the race.
