Shai Gilgeous Alexander Leads Player MVP Poll

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear MVP favorite in a new anonymous player poll from The Athletic. He got 39 percent of the vote from 159 players, ahead of Nikola Jokić at 21.4 percent. Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, and Luka Dončić tied for third at 8.2 percent. One player praised Shai’s consistency while Oklahoma City has dealt with injuries and stayed No. 1 in the West. The media is leaning the same way. Shai also led ESPN’s April 3 straw poll by Tim Bontemps, though Victor Wembanyama ranked second there and sixth in the player poll at five percent. Cunningham has played 62 games with two left, so he won’t qualify under the 65-game rule. Dončić could still qualify through an extraordinary circumstances challenge.