As the 2025 NBA MVP race heats up, two players stand out among the rest: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Both athletes have created extraordinary seasons, but their trajectories to the award were as far apart as they could go.
It’s worth noting that Gilgeous-Alexander played in 76 games this season. He led the NJCAA Division I ranks, carrying his squad with an incredible 32.7 points per contest. He impacted the game and influenced winning in more glaring ways than just scoring. With an incredible average of 5 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, he established himself as a complete player. Powered by his leadership, the Thunder blitzkrieged their way to a franchise-best 68 win record. They went 12-8 in win in the West!
In fairness, Jokic this season played 70 games. He left jaw-dropped observers in his wake while averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game. That’s if the reigning three-time MVP stops showing you that he’s still playing at an elite level. Such a performance quite simply seals his reputation as a perennial contender for the award. Once again, if Jokic wins the MVP crown this year, he will win his fourth award in only five seasons. This accomplishment will secure his place among the league’s elite.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Stellar Performance
Despite the lack of winning, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s breakout campaign has gotten everyone’s attention, and rightfully so. In 1962, he had a profound effect on the league record 32.7 points per game. His superb 51.9% success rate from the field highlighted just how deadly he was.
His campaigning became evident in a recent straw poll, where he won 77 of 100 first place votes. This remarkable performance is indicative of just how strong his candidacy for the MVP award has been. Gilgeous-Alexander relentlessly finds ways to lift his team up. His leadership has them on pace to finish at the top of the Western Conference.
The primary reason for the Thunder’s success this year has been him putting together an MVP season on the court. As Gilgeous-Alexander himself stated, “If you didn’t know Nikola had won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper … he wins 10 times out of 10,” emphasizing his belief in his own capabilities compared to established stars.
Nikola Jokic’s Consistent Excellence
Once again, Nikola Jokic just keeps showing all of us why he is the reigning MVP and one of the most valuable players in the league. His current averages of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game speak to that versatility. In turn, he has been the key engine powering the Nuggets’ breakout season thus far.
Even with fewer games played than Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic is still a monstrous MVP candidate in his own right. His versatility, as much as his explosiveness and ability to change games single-handedly are what make him such a unicorn asset for Denver. As head coach Michael Malone reflected on Jokic’s prowess, he remarked on how Jokic’s past achievements could overshadow other deserving candidates.
“And if you don’t think so, you guys are full of s
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