As the 2024-25 NBA season approaches its conclusion, the race for the Most Valuable Player award has taken an exciting turn.
The latest ESPN poll has positioned Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the clear favorite to claim the prestigious honor, outpacing his main rival, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
In the said poll, Gilgeous-Alexander secured 77 out of 100 first-place votes, significantly ahead of Jokic, who garnered 23. This strong support reflects not only his individual performance but also the impact he has within his team.
Jokic continues to put together another stellar season, averaging nearly 30 points along with significant contributions in rebounds and assists. However, the Nuggets find themselves further down the Western Conference standings, which has diminished Jokic's MVP candidacy.
After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in third, with Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell finishing in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
LeBron James, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns round out the top 10 in ESPN's straw poll for MVP this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander, in what is considered his career year, is leading the league in scoring with an impressive average of 32.8 points per game. His shooting efficiency has been remarkable, hitting 52.0 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Furthermore, under his leadership, the Thunder have emerged as legitimate championship contenders, currently holding the best record in the NBA. With that said, it's certainly not surprising to see Gilgeous-Alexander heavily favored to win MVP.
It remains to be seen if he'll actually win it. Should SGA receive it, though, he'll make history as the first Canadian to win the recognition since Steve Nash in 2005 and 2006.
Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Approaching NBA History That Will Catch Michael Jordan's Attention
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 10:27 AM.