Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the 10th player in NBA history to win the scoring title and lead his team to the league’s best record.
The envelope, please.
We’ve witnessed brilliance from virtually every player involved throughout the Kia Race to the MVP this season and epic efforts from the top two finishers in particular. And that’s precisely what everyone wants to see from contenders for the NBA’s most cherished regular-season award.
This trophy brings out the best among the best, as it should.
The MVP is a statement-maker and also states your case for the Hall of Fame. The winner is someone who maintains a high level of performance, endures the rigors of the 82-game NBA season, shows up on a nightly basis, competes favorably against the better players and helps his team win. Not everyone is built that way.
The Kia MVP Ladder only has room at the top for one player, and while the faces often changed from October through April, the truth has a way of revealing itself by the finish. In these situations, even one as hotly contested as 2024-25, the winner is deserving.
With that said …
Congratulations to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Before we salute those on the ladder, here’s a shout-out to Paolo Banchero, Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard. If not for health issues — and therefore each being unable to meet the 65-games-played threshold for award eligibility — these players would have surely landed somewhere on this list.
And now, a word or two on those who did:
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 32.7 points, 5 rebounds, 6.4 assists
His case: His team won. His team won big. His team was dominant all season, won more games than any other, clinched the top seed in the Western Conference before April and will do so by a double-digit margin. No reason to ignore the obvious. The biggest factor in Gilgeous-Alexander’s argument for MVP is wins. It is what separates him from the pack and gives him the slimmest of edges over a player recognized as the finest in the game — Jokić.
One very vivid reason OKC won is because of Gilgeous-Alexander. And the unspoken definition of an MVP is how much he elevates his team in the pecking order. In every way imaginable, Gilgeous-Alexander hauled OKC to the regular season mountaintop.
Here’s the evidence: Gilgeous-Alexander will finish as the league’s leading scorer, a player who gets buckets virtually everywhere on the floor and does so with envious efficiency. He’ll finish with over 50% in field goal percentage (51.9%), which is uncommon for a guard. He rarely forces shots, is masterful in getting to his sweet spots and led the NBA in 50-, 40-, 30- and 20-point games.
As for defense, he’ll be a strong candidate for one of the All-Defensive teams. League-leading scorers rarely make such a two-way case for themselves, so this is very Michael Jordan-ish for Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s among the league’s steals leaders and is stealth-like in how he goes about his business defensively.
No one will begrudge Gilgeous-Alexander for winning MVP. He was a strong candidate last season and simply followed up with an even better season. His impact is evident everywhere on the floor and way up in the standings.
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Last ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.2 assists
His case: History will reflect most kindly on this runner-up mainly because Jokić could make a strong case for being the best runner-up of all time. Certainly, from a statistical standpoint, only Wilt Chamberlain in 1961-62 compares. That was the season Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds (and, if they kept blocked shots back then, he probably would’ve averaged a triple-double as well).
Jokić projects to finish the season ranked among the top three in scoring (No. 3), rebounds (No. 2), assists (No. 2) and steals (tied for No. 2). That is astounding. That has never been done before. He’ll also average a triple-double and lead the league in triple-doubles with 33 this season. And he’ll be in the Top 25 in 3-point percentage. Who does that? (Answer: Nobody else.)
From the 30-20-20 game to the 60-point triple-double and an assortment of other feats, Jokić delivered a season to remember that, perhaps, punched his ticket as a top-10 player of all time. And he’s just 30.
It’s hard to imagine a player topping what he just did, and if someone does come along and matches what he gave in 2024-25, it’ll probably be … Jokić again.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Last ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists
His case: If not for the two players ranked ahead of him, Antetokounmpo would be in the process of wrapping up another MVP award. If not for Jokić, Antetokounmpo would be the most dominant player of the decade, especially considering how forceful he is on both ends of the court. In that sense, he has had no peer the last half-decade.
He’s the only player averaging a 30-point double-double and will finish only behind Gilgeous-Alexander in the scoring race. The Bucks have stumbled a bit in the standings, though no fault of Antetokounmpo. Much like his comparable franchise player in Denver, Antetokounmpo needs an upgrade in talent around him.
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Last ranking: No. 4
Season stats: 27 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6 assists
His case: In so many ways, this was the finest season of his career. That says plenty because Tatum is among the top players of his era. He’s projected to finish among the top five scorers in the league, and his rebounding rate for a small forward is rare.
Tatum has shown all-around dominance, though, excelling defensively and showing an improved court awareness for getting teammates involved, as reflected in his assist rate. His chances for All-NBA are steep.
5. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Last ranking: No. 7
Season stats: 24 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5 assists
His case: The leader of the No. 1 seed in the East is a pretty solid qualification for being among the top five. As dominant as the Cavaliers have been this season, the team deserves a representative, even if, stat-wise, Mitchell doesn’t soar over the bar like those below him on this list.
That said, Mitchell had a superb season. He was an All-Star, a very dependable player in close moments, a solid defender and the Cavs’ top scorer. He’s the go-to player when Cleveland needs help.
The Next 5
6. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
8. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
9. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
10. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; James Harden, LA Clippers; Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers; Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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