In the aftermath of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s triumph over the Utah Jazz, star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander disclosed in a postgame press conference that he is contending with a quad injury sustained during the game against the Jazz. Expressing his condition, Gilgeous-Alexander stated, “Yeah, little banged up in my quad. Happened in the Utah game.” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault added that the team is actively monitoring Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury, acknowledging his compromised state by remarking, “He’s banged up, for sure. He’s not 100%. We’re monitoring it, but he’s certainly not a hundred percent. I’ll let him speak on it.”
Despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury setback, the Thunder currently occupy the second seed in the Western Conference with an impressive 50-21 record. Additionally, they trail the Denver Nuggets by only 0.5 games for the Western Conference’s top spot with 11 games left in the regular season.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a 25-year-old guard, has emerged as a prominent contender for the NBA MVP award amidst his outstanding performance this season. Garnering attention for his exceptional contributions to the team’s success, Gilgeous-Alexander is closely trailing the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic as the favorite for the MVP accolade, with betting odds of +225. Throughout the season, Gilgeous-Alexander has showcased his prowess, earning his second consecutive All-Star selection and his first as a starter. Across 70 games played, the Canadian native has been averaging 30.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and a league-leading 2.1 steals per game. Furthermore, he boasts an impressive shooting percentage of 54% from the field, including 36.7% from beyond the arc.
Speaking about his inclusion in the MVP race, Gilgeous-Alexander expressed his desire for the prestigious award, stating, “It’s a surreal feeling. You dream about it as a kid. I certainly have, wanting to be in the NBA my whole life.” Despite his aspirations, he maintains a grounded approach, emphasizing that he tries not to dwell too much on the outcome. He added, “It’s something that I definitely want. If I achieve it and am blessed enough to get the award, I’ll be very happy.”
Moreover, NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal recently endorsed Gilgeous-Alexander as his pick for MVP of the season, citing his exceptional performance and impact on the Thunder’s impressive record. O’Neal proclaimed, “The MVP is SGA. He meets my criteria and everybody else’s criteria. He’s the baddest player in the game and their team is 49-21.”