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Carmelo Anthony just threw his weight behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2026 NBA MVP race. The Hall of Famer believes SGA has an “on lock” argument over rivals like Victor Wembanyama. Here’s exactly why Melo thinks the Thunder star deserves the award.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Melo’s Take: Carmelo Anthony called SGA the “clear cut” MVP pick on his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast early April 2026.
- SGA’s Stats: Averaging 31.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds with 55.3% field goal accuracy this season.
- Team Success: Thunder hold top seed in Western Conference with 68 wins, best record in NBA.
- Defending Champ: SGA won 2024-25 MVP award, Finals MVP in Thunder’s championship run.
Hall of Famer Endorses SGA Over Competition
Carmelo Anthony made his MVP stance crystal clear. “The players know who the real MVP is,” Melo said on his podcast. “To me, I think it’s clear cut. I think it’s SGA.” He emphasized that Gilgeous-Alexander leads the best team in the NBA while maintaining elite individual stats. Anthony noted the difficulty of arguing against a player averaging 30 points on those numbers.
The 14-time All-Star‘s endorsement carries weight in MVP conversations among players. Carmelo pointed to SGA‘s consistency on both ends of the floor as the deciding factor. His validation came during the most competitive MVP race since the defending champion faced serious threats from Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic.
Carmelo Anthony backs SGA for MVP, here’s his reasoning
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The Numbers Back Up Melo’s Case for SGA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is putting up historically dominant offensive numbers. He’s shooting 55.3% from the field and 39% from three, while averaging 31.6 points and 6.5 assists. These statistics rank him second in scoring only to a select few competitors. His shooting efficiency sits in the 13th percentile league-wide while maintaining incredible volume.
The Thunder guard also leads the league in clutch scoring with 6.48 points per game in close games. This ranks second all-time, trailing only Russell Westbrook‘s 2016-17 season. For Melo, this clutch dominance separates SGA from other elite scorers in the MVP conversation.
How SGA Compares to Victor Wembanyama
| Stat Category | SGA | Wembanyama |
| Points per Game | 31.6 | 24.5 |
| Assists per Game | 6.5 | 3.1 |
| Rebounds per Game | 4.4 | 11.4 |
| Field Goal % | 55.3% | 50.4% |
| Team Record | #1 Seed | Second Place |
Victor Wembanyama surged up the NBA MVP Ladder recently, claiming the #1 spot after some dynamic performances. The Spurs star averages 24.5 points and dominates the glass with 11.4 rebounds plus 3.1 blocks. Yet Melo believes SGA‘s scoring dominance combined with the Thunder‘s best-in-league record gives him the edge for the award.
Team Success Remains SGA’s Biggest MVP Advantage
Carmelo Anthony stressed the importance of team success in MVP voting. The Thunder control the Western Conference with a three-game lead over San Antonio and the best record in basketball. SGA leads a roster featuring Jalen Williams and solid depth into championship contention. Gilgeous-Alexander carries the offensive load while maintaining his defensive responsibilities.
Unlike some seasons where individual brilliance trumps team record, Melo argues the 2025-26 MVP award goes to the player on the best team putting up the best numbers. That’s precisely SGA‘s combination, making him the “clear cut” favorite in Anthony‘s assessment for winning back-to-back MVP honors.
“I love Wemby. I love what he’s doing… He is having a better MVP season this year than he did last year, leads the league in clutch scoring, carrying the defending champs, maybe again, to the best record in the NBA. If that’s not the MVP, I really don’t know what is. But SGA has it on lock.”
— Carmelo Anthony, NBA Analyst
Could SGA Actually Win Back-to-Back MVP Awards?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would join an exclusive club by winning consecutive MVP awards. Legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Lew Alcindor, and Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved this feat. SGA already won the 2024-25 award averaging 32.7 points in 76 games while shooting 51.9% from the floor. His Finals MVP led the Thunder to the championship.
This season, SGA maintains similar excellence while facing tougher competition. Carmelo Anthony believes the Thunder guard‘s combination of individual dominance and team success gives him the inside track. The MVP voting typically rewards players who transform their teams into contenders. With SGA delivering both, Melo’s prediction stands on solid ground as award season approaches.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports – Carmelo Anthony’s reasoning on SGA being his MVP pick over Victor Wembanyama
- Pro Football & Sports Network – Carmelo Anthony backs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the ‘Real MVP’
- NBA.com – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander official stats and Kia MVP Ladder rankings
