Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone publicly named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as his MVP pick over Nikola Jokic during ESPN’s broadcast of Game 1 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander… he showed why he’s the MVP,” Malone said after the Thunder’s dominant second-half surge in the Western Conference Finals opener.
The comment came just weeks after Malone was dismissed by Denver just three games before the end of the regular season.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in Game 1, including 20 in the second half, as the Thunder turned a four-point halftime deficit into a 26-point victory.
The Canadian guard, who averaged a league-best 32.7 points per game during the regular season, is one of three finalists for the 2024-25 NBA MVP award.
He is joined by Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the final round of voting, which is based solely on regular season performance.
Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City to a league-best 68-14 record, becoming the first Thunder player to lead the NBA in scoring since Kevin Durant in 2014.
Jokic, a three-time MVP, finished the regular season with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game while guiding Denver to the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
Antetokounmpo posted 30.4 points and 11.9 rebounds as the Bucks secured the fifth seed in the East.
Despite coaching Jokic for nine seasons and winning the 2023 NBA title together, Malone backed Gilgeous-Alexander after witnessing his second-half takeover in real time.
Malone is currently serving as an analyst on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” studio team throughout the Western Conference Finals.
His on-air praise for Gilgeous-Alexander has added a new layer of intrigue to the MVP debate, especially given his close ties to Jokic.
Game 2 between the Thunder and Timberwolves is scheduled for Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
