Over the last few years, there’s been a drastic shift in the NBA, with international talent rising to the top of the league and being the best players in the world.
From Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets to Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokoumpo, the best players in the NBA today all seem to come from other countries, with Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also in that mix.
The last six NBA MVP awards have gone to international players, with three going to Jokic, two to Antetokounmpo and one to Embiid, and that trend might continue this time around, with Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander leading title-contending teams in the Western Conference.
The consensus of many at the moment is that Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander are the best picks to win the regular-season award, with former NBA superstars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce thinking it’ll be the face of the Thunder that comes out on top via All the Smoke Productions.
“I think Shai Gilgeous is going to win it this year,” Pierce said.
“I actually think so, too,” Garnett said.
“Embiid already said he ain’t playing back-to-backs…”
KG & Paul expect a changing of the guard in this year’s NBA MVP race 👀⁰
Who you got?⁰⁰Catch the latest Ticket & The Truth: https://t.co/Y3Z7I1OXAm pic.twitter.com/bqcmdXkmbe— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) October 21, 2024
The Thunder are a team that only got better during the NBA offseason after being the No. 1 seed in the West after the 2023-24 regular season, with Oklahoma City bringing in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The addition of another elite perimeter defender and one of the best centers in the league makes the Thunder a scary sight for any opponent this year, giving their superstar point guard a legitimate shot to win MVP and potentially lead his team to an NBA title.
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Insider Reveals How OKC Could Land Top Prospect In NBA Draft
