Why Victor Wembanyama didn't win NBA MVP over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This is the era of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
That is, unless and until Victor Wembanyama has something to say about it.
Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will battle Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder in one of the most-anticipated NBA playoff series in recent memory. Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Monday night will pit two of the top three vote-getters in MVP voting against one another — with a berth in the NBA Finals on the line over what is expected to be a long, grueling series.
MORE: The Thunder have one terrifying advantage that could decide the entire Spurs series
Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday was named MVP for the second successive season — and the voting wasn't close, despite Wembanyama's own incredible season with the Spurs.
Gilgeous-Alexander garnered 83 out of 100 first-place votes and 939 total voting points. Wembanyama — who already had won Defensive Player of the Year — finished third with 569 voting points. He received five first-place votes, 36 second-place votes and 47 third-place votes. Denver's Nikola Jokic split the two superstars as he placed second in MVP voting.
For the second time in as many seasons, the Thunder owned the NBA's best record, and Gilgeous-Alexander is still Oklahoma City's best player. Some don't like his playing style, which is heavily reliant on getting to the free-throw line, but there is little argument with his efficiency and his gravity.
Gilgeous-Alexander flirted with a 50-40-90 season as he shot a career-best 55.3 percent from the floor, 38.6 percent from 3-point range and 87.9 percent from the charity stripe. He averaged at least 30 points per game for the fourth consecutive season, and he's the standout player on the league's championship favorites.
For those reasons, Gilgeous-Alexander ran away with the MVP, making him one of only 16 players ever to win the award multiple times. Wembanyama's time is coming, almost certainly. But not yet.
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