This year’s MVP race has been one for the ages. At least four candidates, somehow all in the Western Conference, have made an exceptional case for the league’s most prestigious award. Add in others with spectacular years from the East, and the pool is about as deep as it has ever been.
But in recent weeks, two players have stood out from the rest of the competition: Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After exceptional performances for both of them, one analyst breaks down why they believe the latter deserves the honor for a second straight year.
Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Has the MVP Edge Over Victor Wembanyama
Right off the bat, the two players are having exceptional overall seasons. With both serving as the lead guys on the top two seeds in a brutal Western Conference, the difference between them is already as close to splitting hairs as it can get.
Gilgeous-Alexander has the advantage in scoring, averaging 31.6 points per game compared to 24.5 for the French superstar. He also has better assist numbers at 6.5, as opposed to 3.1 for Wembanyama.
However, the real difference between the two comes on the defensive end. While the reigning NBA MVP is a solid defender in his own right, Wemby has a chance to be the greatest defender in history.
An All-Defensive selection as a rookie, he’s led the league in blocks twice in his career. Failing to reach the 65-game threshold last year prevented him from winning the Defensive Player of the Year award, but he is the undeniable favorite for this season’s DPOY.
Averaging an astounding 3.1 blocks per game, Wembanyama provides a defensive impact that has an offense-bending nature to it. Still, for Ashley Nicole Moss, Gilgeous-Alexander holds the advantage. “SGA is the MVP,” the CBS Sports reporter proclaimed before explaining her point of view.
“outside of his individual stats, the fact that OKC is off a championship year and has been the best team in THE WEST all season is (in part) a testament to SGA’s development as a leader and i don’t think that can be ignored. that’s the slight edge for me.”
The dominance from the Thunder has been a spectacular notch in the reigning Finals MVP’s belt. However, Wembanyama has done an incredible job himself as the unquestioned best player and leader on the San Antonio Spurs, who are right behind OKC in the standings.
This race has dominated the last month of action across the NBA. But in a game of inches, it could come down to the final games for one player to take a lead over the other and seal the MVP for himself.
