Amanda Knapp
The NBA's Most Valuable Player award is one of the most prestigious accolades in basketball, with previous winners including the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James. The award is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, who select the player they believe has been the most valuable to their team based on their performance throughout the regular season. In the 2024-25 season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged as the favourite to win the MVP award, with his impressive performances helping his team secure the No. 1 seed in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. However, Nikola Jokić, Giannis, and Paolo Banchero were also strong contenders for the title. As the season progressed, the race for the MVP award intensified, with outstanding performances from several players, leaving the final outcome eagerly anticipated by fans and experts alike.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2024-25 NBA Season |
| Winner | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| Runner-up | Nikola Jokić |
| Other Top Contenders | Giannis, Paolo Banchero, Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard |
| Previous Winners | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6 times), Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokić |
| Voting Process | Panel of ~100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the US and Canada |
| Eligibility Criteria | Player must appear in at least 65 games and be credited with a minimum of 20 minutes played in each |
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What You'll Learn
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins the 2024-25 MVP award
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2024-25 season. This highly coveted award is given annually to the best-performing player of the regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander's stellar performance this season has been a major contributor to his team's success. With his exceptional scoring abilities, he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to dominate the season, winning more games than any other team and clinching the top seed in the Western Conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander's impressive statistics speak for themselves. In 76 games, he averaged 32.7 points on an incredible 51.9% shooting accuracy. His shooting prowess extended beyond the paint, as he shot 37.5% from 3-point range and an impressive 89.8% at the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring prowess was on full display as he led the league in 20-point, 30-point, 40-point, and even 50-point games. He achieved the remarkable feat of scoring 20 or more points in 72 consecutive games.
Beyond his offensive prowess, Gilgeous-Alexander also contributed significantly to the Thunder's historic defence. The Thunder outscored their opponents by a greater margin than any other team in NBA history. This combination of a high-powered offence and a stingy defence resulted in the Thunder achieving a remarkable 68-14 record, further highlighting the impact of Gilgeous-Alexander's play.
The race for the MVP title was extremely close, with Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets also putting forth an incredible season. Both players exchanged leads throughout the season, with their head-to-head matchups adding further intrigue to the competition. However, Gilgeous-Alexander's team success and his individual accomplishments ultimately tipped the scales in his favour, solidifying his place in NBA history as one of the league's most valuable players.
With this MVP award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cements his name among the greats of the game. He joins the prestigious list of players who have claimed this honour, including the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Wilt Chamberlain. Gilgeous-Alexander's exceptional season will be forever etched in the annals of NBA history, serving as a testament to his talent, dedication, and impact on the court.
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Nikola Jokić finishes as runner-up
Nikola Jokić is a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winner. He first won the award in the 2020-21 season, then again in 2022, and finally, in 2023, he added an NBA championship and Finals MVP to his impressive resume.
Jokić is a superstar who plays for the Denver Nuggets and is known for his exceptional all-around skills. He is a dominant force on the offensive end, with his passing, outside shooting, and scoring ability. When he is on the floor, the Nuggets' offense is among the league's best. However, when he takes a break, their performance tends to drop off. Despite this, Jokić's defensive abilities are often questioned. He is not always aggressive defensively, as he needs to avoid foul trouble and stay in the game.
In the 2024-25 season, Jokić is putting up impressive numbers once again and is in contention for his fourth MVP award. He is on pace to be the first player in history to finish in the top 3 in scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals. He has posted incredible stat lines, including a 30-20-20 game, and is ranked in the top 3 in four major categories. His performance has reignited the race for MVP, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder being his main competition.
However, despite Jokić's outstanding season, Gilgeous-Alexander's team success has given him a slight edge in the MVP race. 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. He is also the only player averaging a 30-point double-double and will finish only behind Jokić in the scoring race. In the end, Gilgeous-Alexander's dominant team performance and individual brilliance proved to be the deciding factors, with Jokić finishing as the runner-up for the MVP award.
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Giannis and SGA are also in the running
The NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual award given to the best-performing player of the regular season. Since the 1980–81 season, the award has been decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the US and Canada.
While the official NBA MVP for this season has not yet been announced, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, also known by his initials SGA, has been voted the most valuable player by his peers. In an anonymous player poll, SGA received 56.1% of the vote, with Nikola Jokić coming in second place with 37.4%.
SGA is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA draft and then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He was then traded to the Thunder in July 2019, and in his first year with the team, he was their leading scorer. SGA is a three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA First Team member. He was also part of the Canadian national basketball team that won the bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, also known as the "Greek Freak", is a Nigerian-Greek professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time, as well as one of the greatest players in general. In 2024, he led the Bucks to victory in the NBA Cup, where he was named NBA Cup MVP. He is the only player in NBA history to average at least 25 PPG, 10 RPG, 5 APG, 1 BPG, and 1 SPG in multiple seasons. Giannis has also represented Greece in basketball, playing in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, as well as EuroBasket 2022.
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Antetokounmpo misses out on another MVP award
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been left waiting once again for a third NBA Most Valuable Player award, with the 2024-25 prize going to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Milwaukee Bucks star has been a runner-up before and will be disappointed to miss out on joining an elite list of players to have won three or more MVPs.
Antetokounmpo, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, won back-to-back MVP awards in 2019 and 2020. He is only the third player in the last 40 seasons to win two, after LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Antetokounmpo, nicknamed the "Greek Freak", is also the youngest since Kawhi Leonard in 2014 to be named Finals MVP, and the first European since Dirk Nowitzki in 2011.
Antetokounmpo's performances this season have been impressive. In April, he recorded 45 points and 13 rebounds in a 128-122 win over the 76ers, helping the Bucks clinch the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He also guided the Bucks to a 60-22 season and the best record in the league. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2001, after scoring 41 points in a 127-104 win over the Detroit Pistons.
However, the 26-year-old has been beaten to this season's MVP award by Gilgeous-Alexander, whose team success in the West has given him the edge. Nikola Jokić, who has won the award three times, was also in the running, but ultimately missed out. Antetokounmpo will now have to wait until next season for another chance to claim his third MVP crown.
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Voting is done by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters
The NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual award given to the best-performing player of the regular season. The winner of the MVP award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from across the United States and Canada. Each member of the voting panel casts a vote for first- to fifth-place selections.
The MVP award has been given out every year since the 1955–56 season. Until the 1979–80 season, the MVP was selected by a vote of NBA players. Since the 1980–81 season, a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters has been responsible for selecting the winner.
The MVP award is highly coveted, and only a few players have won it multiple times. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for the most awards, with six wins. Both Bill Russell and Michael Jordan have won the award five times, while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James have won it four times.
The race for the MVP title is often intense, with various players standing out for their exceptional performances. In the 2024-25 season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić were frontrunners for the award. Gilgeous-Alexander's team success in the West and his impressive individual performance gave him a slight edge in the MVP chase. However, Jokić's statistical advantage and his ability to make players on his team better when he was on the floor were also strong factors in his favour.
While the official vote for the 2024-25 season is not yet known, it is speculated that if the official vote follows the player vote, Gilgeous-Alexander will become the third Thunder player to win the NBA MVP award.
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Frequently asked questions
Previous winners of the NBA MVP award include Shaquille O'Neal (1999-2000), LeBron James (2012-2013), Stephen Curry (2015-2016), Nikola Jokić (2020-2021), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2024-2025).
Effective with the 2023-24 season, players must appear in at least 65 games and play for at least 20 minutes in each of those games to be eligible for the NBA MVP award.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is projected to win the NBA MVP award for the 2024-25 season.
