One of the biggest criticisms of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has to do with his propensity for getting to the free throw line, even at times when contact against him seems minimal. He was the beneficiary of another questionable foul call during the Oklahoma City Thunder's matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Even if both fanbases have spent years trying to discredit the other side with mean words and disingenuous arguments, Luka Doncic and the Oklahoma City Thunder have mutual respect. Both have had a long history together that included a heated playoff series — that remains even if the former has switched teams.

Those in the running are sprinting toward the finish line. OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the pack in NBA.com's latest MVP ladder, which released Friday, but Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic isn't far behind after a historic performance.