With a little over five weeks left in the 2024-25 regular season, the MVP race is down to two — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. It’s a rematch of last year’s race but this time, the former has a leg up on the latter to capture the prestigious award.
Gilgeous-Alexander has had one of the most historically efficient scoring seasons in NBA history. He’s averaged 32.8 points on 52.6% shooting, 6.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds. He leads the league in 20-point games, 30-point games, 40-point games and 50-point games.
What Gilgeous-Alexander has done hasn’t happened since Michael Jordan donned a Chicago Bulls uniform. Throw in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s dominance as the runaway first seed with the league’s best point differential ever, it’s easy to see why many view him as the favorite.
Add the NBA’s official MVP ladder as the latest believer. In this week’s edition, Shaun Powell placed Gilgeous-Alexander at the top of the rankings. He and Jokic have gone back and forth between the top two spots. The 26-year-old is fresh off scoring 92 total points by himself against the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies.
“The most methodical scorer in the game is a threat to score 50 points on any given night. He had no 50-pieces before this season, now he has four,” Powell wrote. “What’s impressive is how Shai is dangerous anywhere on the floor. He’s not a volume 3-point shooter but can’t be left open. He gets to the rim, and the free throw line, and of course is elite at mid-range. Defense is solid, too. He’s a complete player.”
Momentum has built toward Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP season. With all the nuance involved in the typical MVP debates, sometimes it’s about being the best player on the best team. That simple logic is usually right. This season, he’s a textbook example of that.
Considering the betting odds and ESPN’s latest straw poll, the Thunder’s upcoming home back-to-back against the Denver Nuggets is a rich opportunity for Gilgeous-Alexander to win over the few undecided voters and fans left.