Magic Johnson praised Alexander's 40-point performance: He is the MVP of this season

January 18th news , in yesterday's game between the Thunder and the Cavaliers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again demonstrated his excellent scoring ability, scoring 40 points in three quarters and leading the team to end the game with a big victory.

After the game, NBA legend "Magic" Elvin Johnson tweeted, highly praising Alexander's outstanding performance and said: "Alexander scored 40 points in the game against the Cavaliers last night, proving to all of us why he will be the most valuable player in the league this season!"

In the confrontation with the Cavaliers, Alexander completed a scoring feast in just 29 minutes. He made 17 of 26 shots, with a hit rate of 65%. Although he only made 1 of 5 shots from beyond the three-point line, he remained perfect at the free throw line, making all 5 free throws. In the end, he scored 40 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals, showing comprehensive offensive and organizational abilities. In addition, his plus-minus value on the court reached +32 , once again proving his huge impact on the team's victory.

Alexander's performance this season has sparked widespread MVP discussion. In the 2024-2025 season, he averaged 31.4 points, 6.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game, with a shooting percentage of nearly 50% and a free throw percentage of over 90%. His stability and key ball ability have laid a solid foundation for the Thunder in the fierce competition in the Western Conference.

Magic Johnson's comments on Alexander in his tweet undoubtedly increased his MVP bid. As one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, Johnson's endorsement carries great weight. When evaluating MVP candidates, Magic Johnson particularly values a player's dominance of the game and contribution to victory, and Alexander's performance clearly meets these criteria.

The Thunder has gradually risen in the past few years with its reconstruction strategy, and Alexander is the absolute core of this young team. His growth and stable output have won more attention for the Thunder. If the Thunder can continue its winning streak, Alexander's MVP competitiveness will be more solid.

With a 40-point performance against the Cavaliers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again proved his superstar value to the league. He is not only the future of the Thunder, but also a strong contender in the MVP race this season. As Magic Johnson said, SGA's performance "showed us why he will be the most valuable player this season."