The Anguishing Countdown of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The collective good is paramount, but the NBA is also, above all, a competition of players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is well aware of this and knows that he is close to being deprived of a supreme privilege, such as being able to compete for the MVP award and being featured in all the NBA Awards given out at the end of the season.

It is neither frivolous nor selfish to keep in mind the importance of this fact. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a top contender for the season's best player award, and it would be a real tragedy, both for him and for the entire NBA, if he were to be denied it. The abdominal strain that has been affecting his participation in recent games could become a serious issue in achieving this goal, as well as for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The current NBA leaders are not in excess. They are aware of how crucial it would be to end the regular season with the best record, both morally and logistically. Having home-court advantage throughout the playoffs would be important, but they are seeing how the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs are exerting great pressure. Each game already carries a certain pressure, so they need Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in full form. If he misses three more games, the consequences at both individual and collective levels could be fatal.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La angustiosa cuenta atrás de Shai Gilgeous-Alexander