In the ever-heated MVP debate, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton weighed in on the conversation surrounding Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. With Wembanyama making a compelling case for himself, fans and analysts alike are split on who deserves the prestigious honor.
During a postgame chat with NBA on Amazon, Haliburton shared his thoughts on the MVP race. “If I had a vote, it would for sure go to Shai for back-to-back,” Haliburton stated.
He acknowledged the impressive performances from Wembanyama in San Antonio but remained firm in his support for Gilgeous-Alexander. “I see the campaign that's going for him.
It's within well-reason, but I would definitely vote for Shai.”
Currently, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the MVP odds at -320, while Wembanyama trails at +270. Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic follows with odds of +2700, highlighting the competitive nature of this year's race.
NBA insider Zach Lowe also threw his support behind Gilgeous-Alexander, emphasizing the Thunder star's consistent performance throughout the season. Lowe pointed to Shai's 400-minute advantage over Wembanyama as a significant factor, saying, “When Shai is putting up the kind of value he is on both ends of the floor, it’s not like he’s a minus defensively… and he’s shooting the way he’s shooting, through in the minutes, if they clinch the No. 1 seed, I think it’s his MVP.”
"I think Shai, start to finish, this is his MVP. ... if [the Thunder] clinch the No. 1 seed, I think it's his MVP. I do think Wemby has a real case, I think he's made it to 2nd on my ballot over Jokic."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 24, 2026
Zach Lowe on the MVP race 🗣
(via @ringer)pic.twitter.com/hzbAyMvWLe
While Lowe acknowledged Wembanyama's strong case, even placing him second on his ballot over Nikola Jokic, he ultimately favored Gilgeous-Alexander for the MVP award. This debate showcases the incredible talent in the league and the thrilling race for one of basketball's highest honors.