"Winner gets MVP" - NBA fans hyped as Nikola Jokic and Co. force Game 7 against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder

The OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets are headed to a Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series, and fans couldn’t be more hyped. MVP contenders Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic will prepare for one final duel with a trip to the West finals on the line after Denver’s 119-107 Game 6 win on Thursday.

Even though the MVP is a regular-season award and voting is already completed, the winner hasn’t been revealed yet. Fans are buzzing at the timing, with everything now riding on this last matchup.

Several expressed excitement for the win-or-go-home encounter, with some saying Game 7 carries even more weight than just a shot at the conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"Winner gets MVP," one fan said.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

Expand Tweet

“Can’t wait for Game 7, I think winner will win the chip,” another said.

"Game 7 to decide the MVP, script writers definitely cooking on this series," another added.

Here are other fan reactions:

“TWO GREATEST WORDS IN SPORTS: GAME 7. FEATURING THREE OF THE MOST COVETED LETTERS IN SPORTS: MVP. This game 7 will be cinema,” another said.

“So we all still agree whoever wins game 7 wins the MVP, right?” another asked.

Expand Tweet

Game 7 is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Nikola Jokic: Who is likely to win MVP?

ESPN conducts an MVP straw poll that simulates the NBA’s voting process.

ESPN’s MVP straw poll, which mirrors how the official NBA voting process works, gives a glimpse into how things might shake out.

In the most recent update from April, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the pack with 77 first-place votes and 23 second-place votes, totaling 931 points. Nikola Jokic picked up the remaining top-two votes and came in with 769 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo placed third in the poll, while Jayson Tatum followed in fourth.

The NBA awards are voted on by a panel of beat reporters and broadcasters, and things like how voters perceive players, team performance and the narrative surrounding a season often carry major weight.

There’s no official formula. Instead, things like stats, leadership and overall team dominance all factor into who ultimately takes home the hardware.

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

Know More

Nuggets Fan? Check out the latest Denver Nuggets depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro