James Harden Told Rachel Nichols Players Want Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Win MVP This Year

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden told NBA reporter Rachel Nichols that players want Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win MVP this year. 

While Harden admitted that Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is the best player in the NBA, he thinks Gilgeous-Alexander should win the MVP Award. 

“I talked to James Harden for a little bit this morning before the Clippers left for Denver and I said, ‘Who’s the best player?’ And he said, ‘Well, no question Jokic is the best player.’ But even he said all the players, we want to see Shai winning MVP because of the season he had and the winning,” Nichols said. “And I think that really factors in for them more than maybe some people on the outside who are just looking at stats.”

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists during the regular season. The Thunder had the best record in the NBA and SGA led the league in total points and points per game.

Meanwhile, Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists. He was first in the NBA in PER and triple-doubles.