The NBA on Prime panel took aim at ESPN insider Shams Charania after he revealed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s back-to-back MVP before the show’s live announcement ahead of Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.
The moment was supposed to belong to the show.
NBA on Prime had planned a live MVP announcement during the pregame buildup ahead of Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons.. But the panel didn’t get to deliver it first.. Shams Charania broke the news Sunday morning, revealing that Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had earned back-to-back MVP awards.
That timing landed awkwardly with NBA on Prime hosts Taylor Rooks and a lineup that included analysts and former NBA players Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin.. Rooks pushed back on the idea that this was something they had seen before. saying. “I don’t remember Shams spoiling it back then. ” referring to Nowitzki’s 2007 MVP honor.
Nowitzki, still not letting it go, answered with a jab of his own: “He was a baby then.” Griffin then escalated the tone, calling Charania out by name and adding, “What are we doing, man. It’s Sunday, Shams, go to brunch, you nerd.”
On Monday, attention will turn to whether Charania responds on ESPN, after the criticism played out publicly on the NBA on Prime set.
Later. the panel shifted from the spoiler to the man at the center of the story—Gilgeous-Alexander—using an exchange that pulled in Thunder All-Star time and the strange way MVP seasons stay with players.. When Dirk Nowitzki asked how Gilgeous-Alexander thinks he’ll feel when he looks back on his “2 time MVP trophies” in 10-15 years. Gilgeous-Alexander tried to picture it for the future.
“Probably something like ‘Damn I used to be nice,’” he said.
Steve Nash backed up the feeling from experience.. Nash told Gilgeous-Alexander. “Yup. that’s how it feels. ” and reminded viewers that he won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2004-05 and 2005-06.. Gilgeous-Alexander then continued with a lighter. longer look forward. saying. “Hopefully I’m going to soccer practice. basketball practice. playing tennis in my free time and enjoying retirement life.”
The Thunder’s immediate focus is the postseason, too. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are set to host MVP finalist Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday.
The panel’s irritation over the spoiled MVP reveal threads through both segments: the pregame plan was built for a live moment before Game 7. Charania’s Sunday-morning disclosure undercut that timing. and the show’s response—prompted on the air—flowed into a different kind of spotlight on Gilgeous-Alexander and the way that back-to-back honors linger for years.
NBA on Prime Shams Charania Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP back-to-back MVP Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Game 7 Steve Nash Dirk Nowitzki Blake Griffin Western Conference Finals Victor Wembanyama San Antonio Spurs