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Professional basketball

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes History as NBA's Most Valuable Player

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's historic season culminated in him being named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, the first Kentucky men's basketball product to receive the accolade. Gilgeous-Alexander's incredible performances on the court, including a league-leading 32.7 points per game during the regular season, earned him the top spot in the voting. This achievement is particularly notable, as he is the first UK player to pace the league in scoring in program history.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring at 32.7 points per game during the regular season, the most ever in Oklahoma City Thunder history.
  • He reached the 20-point plateau in 72 consecutive games, the fourth-longest such streak in NBA history.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander earned 913 total votes, including a commanding 71 first-place votes, in the MVP voting.
  • Nikola Jokic of Denver Nuggets finished second in the voting with 787 total votes and 29 first-place tallies.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander's historic season also marked the best overall record (68-14) and earned him the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season.
  • He averaged 29.2 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game thus far in the playoffs.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander is seeking to become the first player since Stephen Curry in 2014-15 to win the league's scoring title, earn MVP honors, and capture a championship in the same season.
  • He has charted career highs in points per game, assists per game, and made 3s per game while playing 34.2 minutes a night.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander is the third player in Thunder history to earn an NBA scoring title, following even Charles Barkley and Kevin Durant.

Statistics:

  • Gilgeous-Alexander's 72-game streak of 20 or more points was the fourth-longest such streak in NBA history.
  • He has the Thunder in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2016.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander has topped the 30-point plateau in eight outings thus far in the playoffs.
  • He has averaged 30.0 points per game or better in each of the last three seasons.
  • Gilgeous-Alexander's 32.7 points per game during the regular season was the highest in Oklahoma City Thunder history.
  • Wilt Chamberlain had two such streaks of 80 games with 20 or more points in 1961-62 and 1963-64.

Sources:

  • The Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.)
  • Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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