Approaching the midpoint of the NBA season, it’s time to take a look at some of the top candidates for the MVP award. Nikola Jokić has taken home three of the last four MVPs, but he has some serious competition this season. Here are our top five candidates for the 2025 MVP with less than 50 games to go, ranked:
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Stats: 31.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG, .637 TS%
Oklahoma City’s star guard is on the path to claiming his first MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth in MVP voting two seasons ago and was the runner-up to Nikola Jokić last year. While his numbers aren’t considerably different from the previous season, he’s leading the No. 1 team in the league while maintaining impressive averages across the board.
The Thunder are currently riding a 15-game winning streak and have already opened up a 6.5-game lead on the rest of the Western Conference. And, that’s with star teammate Chet Holmgren on the mend for the last 25 games. The most recent win came against the Boston Celtics, where Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 33 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in a statement victory over the defending champions.
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Stats: 31.5 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 9.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, .642 TS%
It’s hard to argue against Jokic from a purely statistical standpoint. He has Gilgeous-Alexander beat in points, rebounds, assists, and efficiency. The Nuggets are by far the best offense in the league when Jokic is on the floor, and are dismal anytime he’s on the bench. Still, team record is always going to play a part in MVP voting, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder are 10 games better than Jokić’s Nuggets currently.
Denver has been better lately after an 11-10 start. They’re just two games back in the loss column from No. 2 Houston and No. 3 Memphis. A top-three seed for the Nuggets will put Jokić in serious conversation for his fourth MVP award.
3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Stats: 28.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, .604 TS%
Jayson Tatum has become a mainstay in the MVP race. In the last three years, he has two sixth-place and one fourth-place finish. He’s been named to the All-NBA First-team each of those seasons, essentially classifying him as a top-5 player in the sport. Tatum has been excellent for the defending champions and is well on his way to another All-NBA First-team selection.
His most underrated attribute has always been his defense. Tatum is one of the better wing defenders in the league, able to guard across multiple spots effectively. The impact of having your best player also be one of your best defenders is immense. It’s one of the big reasons why the Celtics are a favorite to repeat as champions.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Stats: 31.6 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, .620 TS%
It cannot be understated the type of season Antetokounmpo is having. Any other year, he might be considered the runaway favorite to win the MVP award. He’s leading the league in points while shooting over 60-percent from the field. In November, Antetokounmpo had four games scoring over 40 points, including a 59-point outburst against the Detroit Pistons.
Unlike Gilgeous-Alexander and Tatum who are surrounded by elite defenders, the Bucks have several liabilities defensively. Antetokounmpo makes up for that, and the Bucks have improved considerably on that end compared to last year. Milwaukee is 14-7 in their last 21 games after a 4-9 start, and if they continue on that path Antetokounmpo will creep up the MVP ladder.
5. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Stats: 25.6 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 4.0 BPG, .604 TS%
San Antonio’s Wembanyama is having one of the greatest sophomore seasons the league has seen. And he didn’t even start particularly well. Over the first nine games, Wembanyama was averaging 17.7 PPG on 41.3-percent from the field and 22.6-percent from three.
He broke out of the early rut with a 50-point showing against the Wizards. Since then (20 games), he’s averaging 28.9 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 4.1 BPG while shooting 49.4-percent from the field and 37.0-percent from three. He’s the odds-on favorite to take home Defensive Player of the Year. And, the Spurs are just 2.5 games back from a top-4 seed in the West. The 20-year-old is already an MVP candidate who will only get better throughout the season.
