In the past few years, NBA players have proven to be more skilled than ever. More players are averaging 25 points per game than ever before and the depth around the league is greater than ever. Every team in the league has multiple players with the ability to drop 30 points on any given night. There are a few players that stand out with a real chance to win the MVP in this 2024-25 season. Here are the rankings for this year’s most prestigious award:
The performance and statistics Nikola Jokic has put up this decade have only been seen a few times in the NBA’s 80-year history. In the past four years, he has three MVPs, a championship, the Finals MVP and he has become the undisputed best player in the game. This year he leads the Nuggets in all statistical categories and is single-handedly carrying them to a playoff birth. Obviously, the team doesn’t look as strong as their championship-winning year in 2022, but Jokic is putting them on his back and putting up insane numbers in the process.
Jokic is averaging 30.7 points per game (56% shooting), 13 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game while playing nearly 37 minutes a night. Every time he steps on the floor he has the ability to change the course of a game through his sheer dominance on the offensive side of the court. Yes, he’s not the fastest or can’t jump the highest, but what he brings to Denver is unmatched in the league.
At third in scoring and rebounding in the NBA, and second in assists, the numbers he is putting up have never been seen by a center. He also does it all without seeming to care. With the drop-off in performance from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., the workload this season has been more than ever for this Nuggets team. However, if he keeps it up while leading them to the playoffs, Jokic should be on pace to win his fourth league MVP in five years.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander arrived in Oklahoma City in 2019 as a part of the deal sending Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers. Initially, he was just thought of as a trade piece to go along with a record-breaking haul of first-round picks. Since then, he has turned into one of the most productive players in the league. He is also the staple for a Thunder team that is on course to grab the first overall seed in the Western Conference for the second year in a row. As one of the best shot-makers in the league, Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented himself as a superstar, and is only getting better.
This year the point guard is averaging 31.3 points per game on 52.8% shooting, along with 5.5 rebounds, and six assists a night. He’s been one of, if not the best mid-range shooter in the NBA this season, and has been the Thunder’s go-to guy when they need a bucket late in the game. Most recently, the two-time All-Star recorded 40 points and four steals in a 113-105 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After the game, Anthony Edwards had this to say about Gilgeous-Alexander;
“The MVP of the NBA,” Edwards told reporters after the game. “”As far as any one-on-one matchup, yeah, you can go on and give it up. Just give him two points most of the time… Anytime he got somebody that he knows can’t guard him, ah, he going to score every time.”
He’s been the best player on the best team in the Western Conference over the past two years, and finished second in MVP voting in 2024 to Jokic. Despite his performances, as things stand now he’s still second on the list. But if his high-level performances continue and the Thunder continue on their 69 game winning pace, he’s definitely giving Jokic a run for his money.
Coming into the league in 2013 almost completely unknown, Giannis Antetokounmpo has transformed himself into one of the most dominant players in NBA history. His most noteable accolades in that span being winning a title in 2021 and MVPs in 2019 and 2020. He has also been one of the most consistent players in the league over the past six seasons. Being named on the First Team All-NBA player in each of those years while averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists on 57% shooting in that span.
In 2024-25, the Greek Freak is averaging a league-leading 32.6 points per game along with 11.6 rebounds, and six assists a night, on a league fourth-best 61% shooting. Most recently, he also led the Bucks to win this year’s NBA Cup. In the championship game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he put up a staggering 26 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists along with three blocks and two steals.
Yes, his performances haven’t necessarily led the team to a successful regular season record. So far this year the Bucks sit at 17-14 and fifth in the Eastern Conference. But like Jokic, the numbers he puts up and the way he impacts a game cannot be understated. Since his first MVP season in 2019, Antetokounmpo has been as great of a player as anyone else in the league. And like the other players on this list, he has the ability on any given night to do something you’ve never seen before.
Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Antetokounmpo seem to be the leaders in the MVP race by some margin. However, there are still four more months of basketball left to be played and several players still have a chance to put a magical run together.
Coming off his first NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum continues to be a top-five player in the league with his consistency and statistical output. This year Tatum is averaging 28.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in a title-defending season in which the Celtics look like the favorites to win it all.
Prior to a calf strain that could see him miss significant time, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was putting up another stellar season. In the 22 games he did play, the Slovenian had averages of 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists. Doncic seems to be able to do everything on the court with ease, and helped Dallas make the NBA Finals last year, while finishing third in MVP voting in the regular season. He is expected to be re-evaluated sometime in late January, but already missing multiple games before this most recent injury, he’s most likely out of the conversation.
A few others to keep an eye on, are New York’s Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, who is also making a great case for winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The league as it stands today is so talented and skilled, with more players than ever before putting up mind-blowing stats with ease. Yes, viewership might be down this year due to teams choosing to take more three-pointers than ever. But that shouldn’t deny the fact that the performances we’ve seen so far have been nothing short of amazing. As the season goes on, these ranking might change, but entering 2025 these are the players that are the most deserving for this year’s NBA MVP.
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