Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins NBA MVP

On Wednesday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder was named the NBA MVP, marking the seventh consecutive year that an international player has received this honor. The last American to win the MVP was James Harden during his time with the Houston Rockets in the 2017-2018 season.

Jay Williams, a former Duke star and current ESPN analyst, raised an interesting point about the absence of American MVPs recently. He suggested, perhaps controversially, that cancel culture might play a role in this trend. “People aren’t going to like it, but I really don’t care. Do you think this cancel culture, with the political aspects of where we were compared to where we are, has anything to do with it?” Williams said during ESPN’s “First Take.”

He also expressed concern over the changing dynamics in coaching young athletes. Williams mentioned how he frequently hears coaches saying they feel unable to coach younger players effectively anymore. He urged his coaching colleagues to hold young players accountable in their training. “The level of sensitivity is out of control,” he commented, reflecting a sentiment that many might find relatable.

All three finalists for MVP this year were international players: Gilgeous-Alexander from Canada won, followed by Serbia’s Nikola Jokic in second place, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, known as the “Greek Freak,” in third. The highest-placed American was Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics, finishing fourth.