Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's historic season puts him ahead in MVP race as Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo trail close behind

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands ahead of all other players as the top choice to win the 2024–25 NBA MVP title. His leadership brought the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 68–14 season record which severed him from competition with Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo . Gilgeous-Alexander stands as the preferred candidate for this season's NBA MVP honor because of his outstanding scoring record and defensive abilities and leadership capabilities.

Gilgeous-Alexander's stellar season positions him as MVP favoriteDuring the current season Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32.7 points per game at an impressive field shooting rate of 53.3% to claim the league leader position. The court performance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extends beyond his scoring numbers because he provides 6.0 assists and 5.2 rebounds while making 2.0 steals per game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season:

32.7 PPG
5.0 RPG
6.4 APG
2.7 STL + BLK
52/38/90%

Every 30-PPG scorer on a 65-win team in NBA history won MVP in the same season. pic.twitter.com/jBYjNlAKK7

— Polymarket Hoops (@StatMamba) April 9, 2025

During his leadership the Thunder team won their highest number of games (68) thus establishing themselves as the best team in the Western Conference. The NBA GM survey named him most likely to win the MVP acknowledgment because players throughout the league selected him with 40% of their votes.

✨ Nikola Jokic
✨ Giannis Antetokounmpo
✨ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

NBA'de MVP ödülü finalistleri belli oldu.

— Sporx (@sporx) April 21, 2025

Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain strong contendersNikola Jokic maintains excellent statistics because he shows exceptional adaptability while averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game. Jokic's ability to get triple-doubles repeatedly supports the Denver Nuggets achieve their wins. His impressive season performance now firmly places Jokic at the center of the MVP conversation while he seeks his fourth MVP award within five professional years.

NIKOLA JOKIĆ, HISTORYMAKER!

🃏 29.6 PPG (3rd in NBA)
🃏 12.7 RPG (3rd in NBA)
🃏 10.2 APG (2nd in NBA)

Since per-game stats began in 1969-70, Nikola Jokić is the FIRST player to finish top 3 in PPG, RPG, & APG in a single season 🤯 pic.twitter.com/19advhKc3c

— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2025

Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to uphold his elite reputation, with averages of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Although the Milwaukee Bucks secured the fifth position in the Eastern Conference, Antetokounmpo's unwavering performance on both offense and defense solidifies his status as one of the league's premier players.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Averaged this 2024-2025 NBA Season:

30.4 PTS (2nd)
11.9 REB (6th)
6.5 AST
1.2 BLK
3.1 TO
60.1 FG% pic.twitter.com/b2mBJyWbIQ

— StatCentral (@TheStatCentral) April 19, 2025

This year's MVP race stands out for its international variety, following a seven-straight season pattern without a U.S.-born candidate. Players highlighting the worldwide nature of modern NBA skill include Gilgeous-Alexander from Canada, Jokic from Serbia, and Antetokounmpo from Greece. Their outstanding performances have captivated supporters all over, therefore highlighting the global appeal of the league.

Also Read: James Harden explains the real reason behind banking on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Nikola Jokic

The upcoming NBA announcement of the MVP winner creates a highly contested situation among the candidates. Even though Gilgeous-Alexander stands as a top candidate for the season's MVP the exciting competitions between Jokic and Antetokounmpo ensure the final decision will create immense excitement among basketball fans worldwide.