Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ahead of Nikola Jokic in ESPN’s latest MVP straw poll. Gilgeous-Alexander received 70 first place votes and thirty second place votes. Jokic, who was first in the previous straw poll, received 30 first place votes, 69 second place votes and one third place vote. The two players are 122 points apart as the MVP race is now down to Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell round out the top-5. Antetokounmpo is the clear choice at No. 3, but he could be ineligible if he misses more than six more games this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander enters the All-Star break averaging 32.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.9 steals in 34.0 minutes per game. Gilgeous-Alexander also has a PER of 31.0. The Oklahoma City Thunder have the best Net Rating in the NBA and are tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record at 44-10
Jokic is averaging 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 36.0 minutes per game. After a slow start to the season, the Denver Nuggets are now 36-19 and in third place in the Western Conference.
Other players receiving votes include Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Victor Wembanyama, Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham and Alperen Sengun.
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