3 Steps for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to enter the MVP race next season

1. Lead a young Thunder team to the playoffs

The Thunder were just one play-in win away from the playoffs last season, way ahead of schedule. Now, last season’s rookies have some experience, Chet Holmgren will finally play, Josh Giddey can take a step forward, and Gilgeous-Alexander has the chance to lead his young squad to the playoffs.

They don’t even have to win much—when Jokic won the MVP in 2022, Denver lost to the Warriors in the first round and Westbrook’s 2016-17 Thunder team also didn’t make it out of the first round—but carrying the team there would already push Gilgeous-Alexander towards the MVP conversation.

In the 2020-21 season, the Memphis Grizzlies became the youngest team to make the playoffs since the 2010-11 Thunder with an average age of 24.3 years. Since then, they have been a regular in the playoffs, Ja Morant entered All-Star territory and never looked back, Desmond Bane took off, and Jaren Jackson Jr. has won Defensive Player of the Year. The Thunder could embark on a similar path if they make the playoffs and it would solidify Gilgeous-Alexander, who carries by far the biggest scoring load on the team, as one of the top players in the league.

The Thunder making the playoffs is not unlikely either. They finished the 2021-22 season with a 24-58 record and then improved to a 40-42 record in just one year. If they won 45 games or so next season, I would not be surprised. There is so much talent and promise on this roster and they are already well ahead of other rebuilding teams, largely due to Gilgeous-Alexander’s breakout. This is their chance to jump to the same level as the Grizzlies, the Cavaliers, and the Kings as young playoff teams who can make life difficult for anyone in the league.

If Gilgeous-Alexander is available, solidifies his standing as one of the league’s top scorers, and can lead his young squad to the playoffs, nothing is standing between him and the top three in MVP voting.