The former Nuggets HC Michael Malone calls SGA the NBA MVP via Jokic after winning Thunder

Nikola Jokić's former head coach apparently believes that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA MVP 2024-25.

“Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander, he showed why he is MVP,” said Michael Malone on Tuesday during a appearance on the reporting after ESPN after the postgame reporting on the 114-88 win of Oklahoma City Thunder about the Minnesota Timberwolves in game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

It feels inevitable that SGA will finally receive the MVP price this season, and he took over the game in the second half after a few early fights.

In total, the Thunder leader ended with 31 points, nine assists, five rebounds and three steals, while he overwhelmed the defense of Minnesota, with his ability to get to the free-wire line to unleash the jumper, to blow the defenders on his way to the edge.

He was also a willing moderator when the double came in the way, which took control of the thunder in the third quarter and never looks back on the way to a 1-0 advantage of the series.

However, it will still turn the heads that Malone was the one who said that.

After all, he trained Jokić on the Denver Nuggets for each 10 seasons of the great man in the league until he was released shortly before the playoffs. This means that he was on the sidelines when the seven-time all-star took home three MVP awards during a famous career.

Jokić is SGA's greatest competition for the MVP Prize this season, and Malone was on the table for his husband in March.

“Obviously Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, and when he wins his first MVP, he deserves that,” said Malone. “My thing is the following: If you didn't know that Nikola won three MVPs and I put players A and player B on paper … The guy who had a average triple double, the type that is top three in the three large statistical categories, things that nobody has ever done, the MVP 10 Times from 10.

After he was released by the nuggets and worked in an analyst role, Malone took a different melody.

While all the signs of Jokić were not pushed to shoot the coach, Shams Charania von ESPN reported in the last month: “He understood the step of the organization.”

Since Malone is no longer tied to the nuggets, it seems that the former coach is also understood whether SGA is the MVP over Jokić.