Now that the NBA is set to enter the second quarter of the season, it's a great time to check in on the MVP race. While many fans may deem it too early to tell, a few NBA stars are already setting themselves apart as front runners in the race to becoming this season's Most Valuable Player.
Even though Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid was last year's MVP, Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokić has been absolutely dominating the race. Jokić has won the award in three of the past four seasons.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Jokić is once again putting together another dominating MVP-caliber season.
It's not going to be a cakewalk this season though for the Nuggets' star center, as there are a few other stars this season who are off to an incredible start. Here's a list of our front runners to look out for in the MVP race.
In fact, the Milwaukee Bucks would like a word!
Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been carrying the Bucks on his back this season, leading his team to wins in 10 of their last 12 games. Antetokounmpo is also leading the league in scoring at 32.5 points per game.
We've ranked our top five MVP frontrunners for the 2024-25 season.
5. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Season Stats: 28.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 8.1 apg
Following Doncic's return to the court, the Mavericks put together a seven-game win streak. There's no question the Slovenian guard is one of the most prolific scorers in the league, making him one of the top five leaders in points per game. Fans often question his ability defensively, always making his case for an MVP title controversial, but the consistency offensively is always there.
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Season Stats: 28.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 5.6 apg
This season we've been able to see Tatum really emerge as the team leader, helping keep his team comfortably seated at the No. 2 spot in the East. After coming off an NBA Championship season, the Celtics roster has taken a few severe hits early in the season with players like Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis all missing games due to injury. That said, Tatum has been putting the team on his back, stringing together some huge wins behind some incredible performances of his.
Tatum leads the Celtics in almost every stat category including scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals. He's making a very strong case to add an MVP trophy to his hardware case.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Season Stats: 29.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.5 apg
Offensive consistency is the first thing that comes to mind when bringing up what Gilgeous-Alexander is doing in Oklahoma City this season. It's very normal to see him come out night after night and score between 25-30 points, easily.
What's been even more impressive is his playmaking and closing skills this year. The Thunder are coming off a big playoff run from last season, and haven't seemed to miss a beat behind the offensive production from Gilgeous-Alexander.
Fans are interested in seeing if the dominance can translate into more success from the Thunder, but they definitely have an MVP-caliber player just based on the first quarter of the season.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Season Stats: 32.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 6.6 apg
If you thought Antetokounmpo couldn't get any better than he already has been in previous seasons, you've thought wrong. The "Greek Freak" has shown massive improvement in his shot selection, shooting 61.1% from the field. Not only does he now lead the league in scoring, but he's leading his team up the Eastern Conference standings, as the Bucks now sit at No. 6 in the East.
Critics initially believed the Bucks would need to become playoff contenders in order for Antetokounmpo to make a real case for the MVP title this year, but after leading his team to win 10 out of 12 of the Bucks' last games, that may not be an issue any longer.
1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Season Stats: 29.9 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 10.4 apg
Not only has Jokić fully emerged as the front-runner in the NBA MVP race so far, but you could also make a case for him being the most impactful player in the league. The Nuggets truly sink or swim when Jokić isn't on the floor as opposed to when he is. This is reflected in Denver's offense, as the Nuggets are last in the NBA offensive rating without him, and first when he's healthy and on the court.
Having won three of the last four MVP titles, many wondered if there was ever a chance of Jokić slowing down: there isn't. He is the only NBA player to be top five in scoring, rebounds, and assists. He also leads the Nuggets in steals, meaning, as much as fans are reluctant to agree, he's improved defensively as well. It could be another scary season for the NBA with Jokić terrorizing the league.
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This story was originally published December 9, 2024, 5:20 PM.