OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander declines to weigh in on MVP race

Thunder star says he'll 'let my game do the talking' amid MVP chatter

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:51am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a basketball game, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette conveying the intensity of the competition.Gilgeous-Alexander's masterful performance against the Pistons showcases his ability to elevate his team when it matters most.Oklahoma City Today

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, declined to weigh in on the current MVP race, saying the discourse around the award is 'good chatter' but that he'll 'let my game do the talking.' Gilgeous-Alexander had a dominant 47-point performance to lead the Thunder to an overtime win over the Detroit Pistons, but downplayed his individual stats and accomplishments.

Why it matters

Gilgeous-Alexander's reluctance to engage in the MVP discussion comes as he continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers and lead the Thunder to the best record in the NBA. His humble approach and focus on team success over individual accolades is seen as a refreshing contrast to the typical self-promotion around major awards.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander scored or assisted on all but one of Oklahoma City's baskets after checking back into the game late in the fourth quarter, rallying the Thunder from a seven-point deficit to force overtime. He finished with 47 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-5 in the fourth quarter and overtime. However, Gilgeous-Alexander's potential game-winning 3-pointer was waved off due to an offensive foul call. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to 'work himself through a game' and dominate crunch time despite a 'choppy' performance earlier.

  • Gilgeous-Alexander's dominant performance came on Monday night against the Detroit Pistons.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder star and reigning NBA MVP, who is currently the favorite to win the award again this season.

Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs rookie who has publicly presented a case for being the MVP this season.

Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers star who has been lobbied by teammate JJ Redick to win the MVP award.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who praised Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to dominate crunch time.

J.B. Bickerstaff

The head coach of the Detroit Pistons, who acknowledged Gilgeous-Alexander's skill at drawing fouls and 'manipulating' the rules.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's good for the league. I think it's good chatter. It gives people something to talk about. There's a lot of good players in this league and a lot of guys in the conversation because of that.”

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder star

“No, I'm good. Thanks for asking, though. ... I let my game do the talking.”

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder star

“He's elite at what he does. You've got to give him a ton of credit for his skillset and his ability to create those contacts and create those whistles. There's rules for a reason, and he's mastered to manipulate them. That's a talent, that's a skill that he's been blessed with.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons head coach

“He has the ability to kind of labor in a game, and then snap of the fingers, he's like back in rhythm. That's what happened in the fourth. When he went back in there, he had a different pop with his playmaking and his scoring. And there's a lot of guys that are great players, but have bad games. He can work himself through a game with the best of them.”

— Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach

“Just watch the games. He got a game winner against the No. 1 seed in the East called off tonight and had 47. His game does a lot of talking. Not much I need to say for him.”

— Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder forward

What’s next

The MVP race is expected to continue heating up as the NBA playoffs approach, with Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, Doncic, and other top candidates making their final pushes for the award.

The takeaway

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's humble, team-first approach to the MVP discussion is a refreshing contrast to the typical self-promotion around major individual awards. His dominant on-court performance speaks for itself, and his focus on winning rather than personal accolades has helped the Thunder maintain the best record in the NBA.