SGA declared MVP favorite
Carmelo Anthony called Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the “clear-cut favorite” and stressed he’s the best player on the best team — averaging about 30 points, per Melo’s March 23 comments ( ). Bill Simmons’ March 23 podcast backs the heat on the MVP race, noting a rare four-player peak that includes SGA, Wembanyama, Luka and Jokic — the conversation is driving everyday MVP narratives across media (netflix.com).
Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander is averaging 31.6 points per game this season, a mark that ranks second in the league on his official stat page. (espn.com) Oklahoma City sits atop the Western Conference with a 56‑15 record and rode an 11‑game winning streak into the weekend after SGA’s 40‑point performance on March 21. (espn.com) Bookmakers have responded to those numbers: major sportsbooks and odds compilers show Gilgeous‑Alexander as the overwhelming MVP betting favorite this month, with markets listing him far ahead of the field. (oddsshark.com) That favorite‑status has a growing counter‑narrative after Bill Simmons publicly named Victor Wembanyama the best player he’s seen this season on his March podcast, a pick that media outlets flagged as reshaping the way voters might weigh two‑way impact. (clutchpoints.com) Coverage outlets and the NBA’s own Kia MVP ladder now treat the race as a multi‑player contest — with Shai, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić all appearing in top‑tier discussion and recent ladder movement. (nba.com) Carmelo Anthony’s 7PM in Brooklyn segment and its social clips have amplified the conversation across platforms, with the long‑form YouTube episode and short social edits driving additional coverage of Gilgeous‑Alexander’s case. (youtube.com)
