NBA insider points out one key Shai Gilgeous-Alexander skill that has him ahead of Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo in MVP race

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the OKC Thunder superstar, has been making his case for NBA MVP. NBA insider Kevin O'Connor pointed out that Gilgeous-Alexander's defense is what separates the guard from other MVP candidates.

In an article on Thursday, the Yahoo Sports analyst put Gilgeous-Alexander at the top of his MVP rankings. He is ahead of a couple of multiple MVP winners: the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (three times) and the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (twice).

"But what really gives him the nod over Jokić, who’s better than ever offensively? And over Antetokounmpo, who’s dragging his team to victories? Defense," O'Connor wrote.

This season, Gilgeous-Alexander is tied with NBA champion Derrick White for the lead in blocks by a guard. He also ranks seventh in the league in steals. According to O'Connor, the OKC guard is not just scoring and playmaking but also playing a high-caliber defense this season.

"He slithers over screens with ease, disrupts passing lanes with active hands and rotates into the paint to contest shots or grab rebounds," O'Connor said. "It would be understandable if a superstar scorer like Gilgeous-Alexander were taking breathers on defense, but instead his performance fortifies the Thunder as one of the elite defensive units of the modern era."

The Thunder lead the NBA in defensive rating, allowing only 102.9 points per game. OKC is the NBA leader in steals per game (11.9) and forces a league-leading 19.0 turnovers per game. The team is also tied for fourth in blocks per game (6.0).

MVP candidates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic (Image Source: Getty)

Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in the MVP race behind Jokic. He has taken it up a notch this year, averaging 31.3 ppg (second in the league), 5.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists. He is shooting an efficient 52.8% (35.0% from the 3-point line).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander praised by fellow superstar guard

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP case has a supporter in fellow NBA superstar, Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, on Wednesday, Edwards was asked about his thoughts about the Thunder star.

"The MVP of the NBA. To me, he's unguardable," Edwards said. "As far as any one-on-one matchup, yeah, you can go on and give it up. Just give him two points most of the time."

Edwards and the Timberwolves visited Oklahoma City on Tuesday and lost to the Thunder 105-113 behind Gilgeous-Alexander's 40-point outburst on 15-of-23 shooting. He had 19 points during the crucial third quarter as OKC gained control.

When informed about Edwards' comments about his MVP case, Gilgeous-Alexander said it was a "good feeling" to be recognized by his peers.

"No offense to you guys in the media, but the best satisfaction is when your peers and the guys that do the same thing for a living at a very high level that you do recognize and respect your craft and your talent," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "That's a really good feeling. Obviously, the caliber player he is, the sky's the limit. Hard-fought battle tonight."

The Thunder (27-5) lead the competitive Western Conference and are the owners of the league's second-best record. They are on a 12-game winning streak and host the LA Clippers on Thursday.

The NBA season has not reached its halfway point yet, and there's still plenty of basketball left before the regular season ends. However, many have already recognized that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing like an MVP.