While the NBA playoffs offer a significant platform for the league`s elite players, the ultimate recognition of individual excellence comes from the Most Valuable Player award, based on regular-season performance. This year`s MVP race was particularly fascinating, especially as two of the primary contenders, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, found themselves competing directly in the Western Conference semifinals.
These two superstars engaged in a season-long battle for the top spot in the MVP standings. It felt fitting, therefore, that their respective teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets, would face off in the postseason as they both chase the NBA championship.
Despite the high-profile playoff matchup, the MVP is awarded solely for achievements during the regular season, and both players put together truly remarkable and distinct campaigns.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the Oklahoma City Thunder to an impressive 68 wins, securing the top seed in the Western Conference. He led the league in scoring, averaging 32.7 points per game, alongside 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per contest, shooting 51.9% from the field. The Thunder finished an outstanding 16 games ahead of the second seed, marking one of the most dominant regular seasons in recent memory.
Simultaneously, Nikola Jokic delivered what many considered one of his finest statistical seasons, guiding the Denver Nuggets to the No. 4 seed in the West. He averaged a triple-double for the season, concluding the regular campaign with averages of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. Should he receive the award, it would be his fourth MVP in five seasons, placing him among an exclusive group of only five players in NBA history to achieve this feat.
Rounding out the trio of MVP finalists is Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. He had another stellar season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists.
According to NBA reporter Tim Bontemps` final MVP straw poll and awards ballot, the race was incredibly close, though Gilgeous-Alexander held a slight edge by the conclusion of the regular season voting.
2025 NBA MVP Finalists Listed
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Point guard | Oklahoma City Thunder
76 games | 32.7 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 6.4 APG
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Nikola Jokic | Center | Denver Nuggets
70 games | 29.6 PPG | 12.7 RPG | 10.2 APG
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Giannis Antetokounmpo | Forward | Milwaukee Bucks
67 games | 30.4 PPG | 11.9 RPG | 6.5 APG
Tim Bontemps` Final MVP Ballot
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
In nearly every NBA season, multiple players present compelling cases for the MVP award. This year`s competition truly came down to the wire between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, widely recognized as two of the league`s premier talents, both having delivered incredible individual seasons.
Fueled by Gilgeous-Alexander`s league-leading 32.7 points per game on 51.9% shooting, the Thunder became just the seventh team in NBA history to achieve at least 68 regular-season victories. Meanwhile, Jokic compiled a historically significant statistical season, ranking in the top three in points (29.6), rebounds (12.7), and assists (10.2), coupled with highly efficient shooting percentages (57.6% overall and 41.7% from three-point range). His performance numbers were truly exceptional.
Reflecting on the back-and-forth debate between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic over the past weeks, a comment from the then-Nuggets coach Michael Malone comes to mind. Malone previously 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. And if you don`t think so, you guys are full of s—.” This highlights the strong arguments on both sides of the MVP discussion.
Summary of NBA MVP Straw Poll Results
A few months prior, a mid-February straw poll indicated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander held a comfortable, though not insurmountable, lead over Nikola Jokic. Six weeks later, the standings remained remarkably consistent.
If the outcomes of the final straw poll prove predictive—as they have for the last five seasons—Gilgeous-Alexander is poised to claim his first MVP trophy. In a poll mirroring the official league voting process, conducted over a 24-hour period, Gilgeous-Alexander secured 77 out of 100 first-place votes.
He garnered 931 total points, finishing second on the remaining 23 ballots. Nikola Jokic finished with 769 points. Notably, after the two received nearly all first and second-place votes in the previous poll, this final edition resulted in a complete sweep of the top two spots, a unique occurrence across the 19 straw polls conducted since the 2016-17 season.
This overwhelming consensus at the top reflects the exceptional level of play both individuals demonstrated throughout the season.
Despite Gilgeous-Alexander leading in the final straw poll, many argued that Jokic presented perhaps his strongest MVP case to date based on his remarkable statistics.
