Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić continue to set the Kia MVP pace for each other and the rest of the field.

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts to being voted into being a starter in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a career-best 54 points on 17-of-35 shooting, eight rebounds and five assists. He shot 3-of-10 from 3 and went 17-of-18 at the free-throw line.

In mid-December, Denver’s Nikola Jokic had a healthy lead on Gilgeous-Alexander in ESPN’s MVP straw poll, conducted several times over the course of each season by Tim Bontemps.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 54 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 123-114 home win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 54 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz 123-114.

Has Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already locked up the NBA’s MVP award? After turning in a career-high 54-point game in OKC’s win over the

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has sat at the very top of the NBA MVP rankings over the last several weeks. This battle between him, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has been close, but now there is a wide gap between Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the field.

The faces of the NBA are still Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, with Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, when Durant, James, and Curry retire, the title of "face of the NBA" will be up for grabs. ESPN analyst and former player Kendrick Perkins seems to think SGA will be the next face of the NBA.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault's honest admission of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's humble approach as a leader

Victor Wembanyama moved up to fifth but the old guard still tops the list. The Celtics led in team merchandise sold.