The 24-2025 NBA season is coming to an end with the playoffs still in motion. The finale is anticipated, awaiting the announcement of the team championships and in topic, the 2025 NBA MVP. This NBA season has witnessed great players that have set and broken nearly impossible records, with stats that are flying through the roof. Narrowed down to the last three standing being Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo, many people wonder who will be crowned the NBA MVP.
The NBA MVP award
Finalists of the major NBA individual awards were announced, and the MVP finalists are one’s fans were expecting. Nikola Jokic, gracefully carrying the MVP of the 2023-24 NBA season, has the chance to win his fourth award in the last five seasons. But what qualifies a player to win this award? Awarded to the best performing player in the league, the qualification criteria consist of the performance of the player; their stats which include points, assist and rebounds.
Being in the winning team is a bonus and the MVP criteria consists of candidates that play for the top seeds. A great player consistency showing great energy throughout all games, may place you as a candidate. As the frontrunners of the 2024-25 NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous Alexandar and Giannis Antetokounmpo, expect to await the results of this candidacy.
Who deserves to win? Here are the stats of the finalists
Standing in line to possibly receive his first NBA MVP award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to 68 games wins and setting a scoring margin record, but is that enough to win against the two powerhouses? Seeming to be the favourite Gilgeous-Alexander averages 32.7 points per game, being one of the most accurate high scorers with a 51.9% shooting.
The star player has also ranked first place in 20-point games, 30-point games, 40-point games and 50-point games. Ranking second favourite in the MVP votes, the Denver Nuggets’ star, Nikola Jokic has led his team to the finals with a 50-32 record. Averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists, he has set the record for a 30-20-20 triple double.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks’ power forward is positioned on the third rank for the award and has shown dominance on the courts through his 30.4 points average, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists. Leading the Milwaukee Bucks with a 48-34 to the NBA playoffs, the star’s physicality and versatility is one that favours him against his opponents.
Panel voters: who favours who
Writers (covering sport networks such as the ESPN) and broadcasters (analysts and reporters) affiliated with the NBA, voted for the finalists last week and here’s the direction some decided to take. Gilgeous-Alexander took favour from NBA writer and analysist, Chris Herring, the ESPN HBA reporter, Tim MacMahon, former NBA executive now ESPN analyst, Bobby Marks.
The ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin also voted for Gilgeous-Alexander, alongside Kevin Pelton, the ESPN analytics expert, Senior ESPN NBA writer, Ramona Shelburne and Marc J. Spears, the Senior NBA writer for Andscape, who covers culture and basketball. Nikola Jokic was voted by ESPN betting analyst, Andre Snellings, the NBA draft expert, Jeremy Woo and ESPN reporter, Michael C. Wright.
The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are still in motion and great effort has been witnessed from these three players so far in the game. How much more will they rise in greatness as they step into the moment that will possibly name them the 2024-25 NBA MVP. The choice is difficult as there is so much potential from all three stars. Will the ultimate most valuable player for the season be Nikola Jokic, adding to his collection, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who wishes to receive his first?
