Alexander, it's Mark Daigneault. The coach-superstar duo has been tied at the hip since 2020. Both have had firsthand experiences of their respective rises in their professions. Gilgeous-Alexander went from a throw-in piece in the blockbuster 2019 Paul George deal to the probable MVP winner.

"We've seen both teams four times this year, so we've kinda got a pretty good feel for them," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Know what they bring to the table, what challenges they pre

It's a well-deserved honor for Gilgeous-Alexander, who's the betting favorite to win MVP. The 26-year-old guard averaged a league-high 32.7 points during the regular season and led OKC (68-14) to its best record in franchise history.