The 2024-25 NBA regular season is coming to a close Sunday, and MVP résumés are being finalized.
OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits atop the list in NBA.com’s final MVP ladder, which released Friday. But the award isn’t locked up just yet with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic putting up historic numbers.
Here’s a complete look at the final MVP ladder.
- Last week’s ranking: No. 1
- Season stats: 32.7 points, 5 rebounds and 6.4 assists
OKC (66-14) has secured the top seed in the Western Conference and the best record in the NBA, giving it home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
That likely means that Gilgeous-Alexander won’t need to suit up for the Thunder’s final two games of the regular season. And if his MVP résumé is indeed finalized, it’s a great one.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in points per game (32.7) on shooting splits of 51.9% from the field, 37.5% from deep and 89.9% from the free-throw line. He also ranks fifth in steals per game (1.7) and has a strong case to earn an All-Defensive team selection, making him one of the most well-rounded superstars in the NBA.
- Last week’s ranking: No. 2
- Season stats: 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists
Denver is still playing for something in its last two games of the regular season. The Nuggets (48-32) are the fourth seed, but they can finish anywhere from seeds 3-8.
Denver will continue to lean on Jokic, who’s putting up ridiculous numbers. He’s averaging 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists on 57.5% shooting from the field, 41.4% shooting from deep and 80.8% shooting from the free-throw line.
Jokic is on pace to become just the third player in league history to average a triple-double for an entire season. Russell Westbrook did it four times, and Oscar Robertson did it once.
- Last week’s ranking: No. 3
- Season stats: 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists
Antetokounmpo is showing just how valuable his is for Milwaukee. The Bucks (46-34) have won their last six games despite being without Damian Lillard (calf), and Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 points and 11.2 assists during that stretch.
Antetokounmpo is the only player who’s averaging a 30-point double-double this season, and he’s doing it on incredible efficiency. He ranks sixth in the NBA in field goal percentage (60.3%).
The two-time MVP is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. Still, it has become a two-man race for the award between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic.
- Last week’s ranking: No. 4
- Season stats: 27 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6 assists
Boston continues to be an Eastern Conference powerhouse. The Celtics (59-21) are the second seed, and they’ve finished in at least second place in the standings for four straight seasons.
Tatum deserves plenty of credit for that dominance, especially this season. He’s averaging 27 points, 8.7 rebounds and a career-high six assists.
It doesn’t look like Boston will be on the decline any time soon, and the same can be said for Tatum. While the 27-year-old forward won’t win MVP this season, he’ll surely be in the conversation for years to come.
- Last week’s ranking: No. 7
- Season stats: 24 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5 assists
Cleveland (63-17) has clinched the top seed in the East, and it’s a legitimate threat to a Boston team that won last season’s championship.
Mitchell has led the way. He’s averaging 24 points, 4.5 rebounds and five assists, and he has played in the most regular-season games (71) since his sophomore campaign (77) in 2018-19.
When it comes to the MVP race, there’s a wide margin between Mitchell and frontrunners such as Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. But this has still been a strong season for the 28-year-old guard, who’ll surely earn his second All-NBA selection.
The next five
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers; Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers; Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
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