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OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's selection as a Western Conference All-Star on Thursday excited many fans. However, some thought that Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry should've been voted in.
SGA has been on a tear since the season started. He's appeared in 46 games and has averaged 31.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists. This is his second straight season of averaging at least 30 points. What's even more impressive is that he also leads the league in steals, with 2.2.
Because of what he's been able to do this season, he was voted as an All-Star starter. Last season, he was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, but not as a starter.
Gilgeous-Alexander shared how surprised he was at the news with ESPN's Bobby Marks.
"With selection stuff like that and awards, I don’t like for people to tell me before," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I like to be surprised. I was excited. I thought Steph was going to get it."
SGA finished third in fan voting behind Curry and Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. However, player and media voting pushed him over the top, and he became a starter.
What's also impressive is that the guard has led the Thunder (32-15) to a top spot in the West.)
Unfortunately for Curry and the Warriors, that has been their problem this year. They have a 20-24 record, placing them at the 12th spot in the standings.
You might also be interested in reading this: Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing tonight? Latest OKC Thunder 2x All Star's status vs Denver Nuggets (January 31)
The new rule could make Shai Gilgeous-Alexander an MVP
Many NBA stars have missed a lot of games this season. For this reason, the possibility of them winning any in-season award is in jeopardy. The heavy favorite to win the MVP award, Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid, could lose to other players because of the league's new rule.
The NBA announced that players are eligible to win any in-season award if they play a minimum of 65 games in a season. However, due to injuries, some stars could miss out on winning anything. This is an advantage for some players who have been available for some time.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has only missed two games this season, and he could end the season with more than 65 games played. For this reason, the MVP race could change, and he might be at the forefront when the season ends.
The result of the MVP race won't be final until the end of the season, and the OKC guard could use the new rule to his advantage. As long as he's healthy, SGA might just win the award.
