On the other hand, Malone is just a month and a half removed from coaching another superstar in Nikola Jokić, who has won three of the last four MVP awards and was in a close rac

“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he’s the MVP,” Malone, who will be featured on ESPN throughout the network’s coverage of the series, said after the game. “He took over in the second half. Did so in a very efficient manner, and he put the team on his back.”