The NBA season has been a rollercoaster, especially when it comes to the MVP race. The Oklahoma City Thunder's electrifying start, going 24-1 without Jalen Williams, had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking like a lock for a second straight MVP Award. But Nikola Jokic, with his phenomenal play, kept the conversation alive, even as the Nuggets battled injuries and closed the gap at the top of the standings.
However, the dynamics shifted dramatically when Jokic suffered a knee injury. What was once a neck-and-neck MVP race leaned heavily in SGA's favor. With Jokic missing games, his eligibility for the award seemed in jeopardy, as he was set to miss enough time to fall below the 65-game requirement.
A twist of fate came with a weather cancellation in Memphis, allowing Jokic to return after sitting out 16 games. This gave him a slim margin, needing to miss no more than one more game to stay in the MVP conversation.
Despite this, the Thunder maintained their lead over the Nuggets, and the difference in games played kept Shai as the frontrunner. But the narrative took another turn on February 4th, when the Thunder revealed that SGA was dealing with an abdominal strain, sidelining him through the All-Star break.
As the break concluded, the Thunder announced that Gilgeous-Alexander would miss at least another week before reevaluation. Having already missed seven games, this additional absence would bring his total to 11 missed games, closing the gap with Jokic's 16.
The uncertainty looms large. If SGA's recovery lingers, he might fall short of the 65-game mark.
Jokic faces the same challenge. Both the Thunder and Nuggets have their sights set on a championship, prioritizing their stars' health over individual accolades.
This scenario adds an intriguing layer to the MVP race. It’s now closer to a toss-up, and there's even a wild possibility that neither SGA nor Jokic will meet the game requirement. Such an outcome would leave the NBA in a tricky spot, potentially crowning an MVP who doesn’t match the season's top performances due to the league's own rules.
As the season unfolds, this storyline will be one to watch, adding even more drama to an already thrilling NBA campaign.