Heated MVP races always raise hot-button issues. For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, that's his ability to get to the free-throw line. While 29 other fanbases might groan when the referees blow air in their whistle when he drives to the basket, folks within the Oklahoma City Thunder believe he should get to the line more often.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault theorized that Gilgeous-Alexander has been officiated differently since the All-Star break. While he didn't have the statistical evidence on hand to back that up, he said it was a gut feeling reaction.
The drive-heavy scorer will average 30-plus points for a third straight season.