Playing back-to-back seven-game series, Denver had Oklahoma hand them a semi-final exit. After proceeding to the WCF, the Thunder showed complete dominance in Game 1. Addressing OKC's win, Mike Malone mentioned how Shai showed he was the true MVP, stirring up social media.

Michael Malone insists his heart is still with his old home. The former Denver Nuggets coach said Thursday that his longtime former star Nikola Jokić is his personal MVP after controversially suggesting the honor belonged to the Oklahoma City Thunder 's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Tuesday night.

During NBA playoff pregame coverage in Oklahoma City, Malone clarified, if he had a MVP vote, he would have voted for Jokić over eventual MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of th