Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t very impressed together with his career-high 54-point efficiency towards the Utah Jazz.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded the primary 50-point sport of his profession final evening. In a 123-114 win over the Utah Jazz, Shai put up 54 factors (17-35 FG) to steer the OKC Thunder to a win. There have been loads of jokes amongst followers about Shai’s incapability to crack the 50-point barrier. These jokes can finish with this standout efficiency.
It wasn’t nearly Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring the ball. He put in an all-around efficiency with eight rebounds, 5 assists, three steals, and two blocks. He needed to do all of it for an NBA-leading OKC squad that noticed their position gamers falter (one thing that’s occurred earlier than) towards the 10-32 Jazz.
Although he had a career-defining evening, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t impressed.
Within the post-game press convention, reporters have been giving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander his well-earned flowers for this efficiency. Nonetheless, when the MVP candidate was requested concerning the efficiency, he appeared lower than enthused.
“I do know this can sound very spoiled, however I really feel like I didn’t have that nice of an evening. Left just a few on the desk, however there’s room to enhance and that’s an excellent factor.”
Even in his on-court post-game interview, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tried downplaying the achievement.
“I used to be simply attempting to be aggressive and make the best basketball play. From there, I simply belief the work. No completely different from another evening. I had just a few extra factors tonight, however nothing particular.”
Shai didn’t have an ideal evening and shot below 50% from the sector, however he did nearly the whole lot he may to ensure this win. It was a real MVP-like efficiency however clearly it wasn’t faultless or one of many best performances in NBA historical past.
By the midway mark of the NBA season, it’s clear that Shai is the front-runner within the MVP race. He’s averaging 32.0 factors, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists for the 37-6 Thunder, at the moment tied for the most effective report within the NBA. They appear penciled in because the West’s No. 1 seed, a feat Shai has led the crew to regardless of lacking Chet Holmgren for many of the season.
His largest rival within the MVP race is Nikola Jokic. The Denver Nuggets heart is averaging 30.1 factors, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists on the 27-16 franchise. Their successful report isn’t practically nearly as good as OKC’s, with the Nuggets at the moment occupying the No. 4 seed within the West.
This MVP race will possible come down to those two. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks want to finish the season with over 55 wins to actually have a shot proper now. Luka Doncic was faraway from eligibility attributable to accidents and gained’t pose a risk even when he returns in February.
This may be a banner 12 months for Shai and the Thunder, however their purpose isn’t to win regular-season MVP or the No. 1 seed within the West. Their purpose is to win the NBA Championship on the finish of the season.
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