What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Needs to Beat Nikola Jokic in the NBA MVP Race 2023/24

Canada has produced many talented basketball players, but only Steve Nash has won the MVP award. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now stands the chance to become Canada’s second MVP. With less than two months left in the 2023/24 season’s regular phase, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the strongest contenders for the MVP title.

According to BetMGM, Gilgeous-Alexander’s winning odds are still lower than Nikola Jokic’s. The Canadian star also ranks below Jokic in a survey of 100 insiders conducted by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on February 13. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 709 points, while Denver Nuggets’ center scored 889 points.

However, it’s not too late for Gilgeous-Alexander to turn the tables. The MVP is often determined by performances in the final stages. Joel Embiid led at the start of 2022 but was overtaken by Jokic at the end of the season. In 2023, the tables turned again with Jokic leading but Embiid ultimately winning.

Therefore, Gilgeous-Alexander still has hope of clinching his first MVP title this year. Here are the things the OKC Thunder’s number one star needs to do to stage an impressive comeback in the race.

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What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Needs to Beat Nikola Jokic in the MVP Race? Winning in Advanced Stats Voters often evaluate players based on their advanced statistics, how they impact their team’s success. These are stats that Gilgeous-Alexander currently leads in most categories.

Statistic Gilgeous-Alexander Jokic Estimated Plus-Minus +9.5 +6.6 LEBRON +5.70 +6.56 RAPTOR +9.8 +8.9 Win Shares 12.1 12.0 Gilgeous-Alexander has the advantage in these stats because the Thunder are winning more games, and by a larger margin than the Nuggets. He plays more minutes than Jokic, and his 31.2 points per game far surpass Jokic’s 26.1. (However, Jokic has impressive stats in rebounds and assists).

SGA Needs to Improve Defense Jokic has overcome criticism of being a poor defender. His versatile hands and excellent game reading skills have helped him compensate for his lack of speed or athleticism. However, few see defense as Jokic’s strong suit.

Gilgeous-Alexander is similar. Only a few discerning analysts pointed out that he wasn’t an excellent defender for the Thunder a few years ago, but those assessments have changed.

Gilgeous-Alexander excels in steals, leading the league in that category. He’s become a solid perimeter defender, with his timing and long arms helping him guard well and thwart many outside drives.

Gilgeous-Alexander currently leads the league with 2.1 steals per game. If he can increase his blocks from 0.9 to 1.0 per game, he’ll be the second player to average at least two steals and one block per game since Draymond Green did so on his way to winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

Gilgeous-Alexander will have an advantage over Jokic in defensive abilities. The question is, how significant is that gap, and Gilgeous-Alexander must prove it in the future.

Thunder Need to Keep Winning Although theoretically the MVP is an individual award, the chosen one is usually based on team success.

So far, the Thunder have been a league-wide surprise. They’ve gone from a team with only 24 wins two years ago to potentially reaching an estimated 58 wins at their current pace this season. Every win will make a difference in their final seeding.

As of now, the Thunder are second in the West. The Nuggets are three games behind, ranking fourth. In fact, the top four teams (Wolves, Thunder, Clippers, and Nuggets) all have a chance to rise to the top spot.

The possibility for Gilgeous-Alexander to win the MVP is still bright, as the Nuggets seem to be focusing more on the playoffs than trying to win as many regular-season games as possible. Denver has struggled with injuries throughout the year, and ensuring their key players are healthy for the postseason is reasonable.

If the Nuggets maintain their fourth position while the Thunder rise to first, it will be a highly convincing argument for Gilgeous-Alexander.