Alexander, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo were the only players to appear on every MVP ballot

When the Houston Rockets traded Chris Paul to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook in the summer of 2019, it appeared to be part of a massive teardown effort in OKC. They already flipped Paul George to the Clippers for a young point guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a boatload of picks six days prior,

After the question was asked, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't help himself. He cracked a smile and burst into laughter when Mark Daigneault's name was mentioned at the end of his MVP press conference.