Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 'MVP of NBA,' Edwards says - ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY — Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards, beaming with admiration of an All-NBA rival, didn't hesitate when asked about Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

«The MVP of the NBA,» Edwards told ESPN.

The season hasn't reached the halfway point yet, but Edwards has seen enough to declare that Gilgeous-Alexander should be en route to earning his first MVP award after finishing as the runner-up last season.

Actually, Edwards saw way too much from Gilgeous-Alexander during the Thunder's 113-105 win over the Timberwolves on Tuesday night at the Paycom Center. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points on 15-of-23 shooting, including 19 points during the third quarter while Oklahoma City seized control of the game.

It was the 12th consecutive win for the Thunder, a streak that doesn't include the NBA Cup finals loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, which doesn't count as a regular-season game. Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 33.4 points on 56.6% shooting from the field during the longest winning streak since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.

«I feel like I'm flowing, like the game's just coming,» Gilgeous-Alexander said. «I'm not pressing, not thinking, just out there hooping. The hard work's paying off.»

Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in the league in scoring (31.3 points) and second in steals (2.0) for the 27-5 Thunder, who have the Western Conference's best record and the NBA's top-ranked defense. He's shooting 52.8% from the field while also averaging 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.2 blocks.

It's the ease with which Gilgeous-Alexander scores that awes Edwards.

«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