Well, that’s one way to stir the MVP pot.

After watching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander torch the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone dropped the mic mid-interview: “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he’s the MVP.”

Uh oh. Somewhere in Serbia, Nikola Jokic probably raised one eyebrow, sighed deeply, and resumed walking his horses. Because Malone just publicly backed SGA… over his own triple-double-dropping superstar. Let’s be real—this isn’t just your everyday locker room praise. This was a full-blown MVP endorsement, and with Jokic coming off a historic season and a disappointing playoff exit courtesy of SGA, the timing could not be more awkward.

Game 1? It looked like a throwback to those old Spurs-Pistons 2005 games—gritty, brick-filled, and slightly sleep-inducing early on. Shai started colder than a G-League benchwarmer in Alaska: 2-for-13 in the first half. His shooting percentage fell faster than Ben Simmons’ three-point attempts.

But like MJ after a bad first half (or LeBron in Game 6 vs. Boston), SGA came out swinging. He finished with 31 points on 10-for-27 shooting—still not pretty, but hey, he led all scorers. The dude shot 11-for-14 from the charity stripe and tossed in nine assists for good measure. And let’s not forget: this was just 48 hours after OKC ended Jokic’s season in Game 7. You want MVP moments? That’s one.

And while Shai was cooking late, his teammates brought the seasoning. Jalen Williams dropped 19-8-5 with five steals (aka the stat line of someone trying to become the third Splash Bro). Chet Holmgren added 15 points and a spicy spinning dunk that made Kevin Durant’s Twitter burner tremble. Even Kenrich Williams came in with an 8-point explosion like he was channeling peak 2017 Patty Mills.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves? Ice cold. They shot 15-of-51 from three—basically what you’d expect if you let Shaq shoot 50+ treys. Anthony Edwards, a.k.a. the NBA’s walking bucket with a side of swagger, was held to just 18 points and zero in the fourth quarter. And Julius Randle? Started with 20, ended with 28. That’s the basketball equivalent of opening a microwave meal and realizing you forgot to peel back the film.

The MVP Race: Jokic’s Numbers vs. SGA’s Narrative

Let’s rewind a sec. Nikola Jokic had a season that made Wilt Chamberlain jealous. 29.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 10.2 APG. That’s not basketball—that’s MyCAREER on Rookie mode. But then you look at Shai: 32.7 PPG (NBA leader), 76 games played,  #1 seed in the West, led OKC to a franchise-best 68 wins and the best point differential in NBA history (+12.9).

That’s not a stat line. That’s a resume with a cover letter from the basketball gods. And in their head-to-head? SGA sent Jokic packing and outshone him in Game 7 with 36 points, 9 assists, and 5 steals. That’s not just a game—it’s an MVP mixtape. Look, Jokic is probably too chill to lash out. He might shrug, mumble something philosophical, then go toss a few dimes in a Serbian rec league. But don’t be fooled. Malone backing Shai stings. It’s like if Steve Kerr suddenly called Devin Booker “the most complete shooting guard in the game.” Ouch!

And let’s not forget: Nikola Jokic is a three-time MVP and reigning MVP. But this year? Voter fatigue hit harder than a Draymond Green screen. His Nuggets won 57 games, not bad, but not SGA leading a kiddie-core OKC team to a historic dominance level.

Michael Malone said the quiet part out loud—and now the MVP drama just got juicier than a Kendrick Perkins hot take. Jokic may be the stat king, but SGA’s got the story, the wins, and now even the coach of his playoff victim in his corner. Game 2 tips Thursday, but the MVP scoreboard? It’s already looking like: SGA – 1, Nikola Jokic – Yikes.