The 2025 NBA MVP race was one for the history books, with two international superstars — Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Serbia's Nikola Jokić — delivering performances that redefined excellence. The league announced earlier today that the voters have selected SGA as the winner, sparking a firestorm of discussion about which player had the more compelling case. Let's attempt to answer the million dollar question: Who really deserved to take home the Michael Jordan Trophy?
The Case for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander's stats were excellent this year. He averaged a league-leading 32.7 points to go along with 6.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a franchise-record 68 wins and the NBA's best record, his consistent two-way dominance was undeniable. He's now averaged 30+ points on 50% shooting for three straight years — making him the only guard not named Michael Jordan to do so — and this season he scored 20+ points in every game but one (in which he scored 18), including four games with 50+, 13 with 40+, and 45 with 30+. His defensive prowess saw him rank among the league's top guards in steals and defensive impact, making him a strong candidate for All-Defensive honors.
SGA's candidacy goes beyond numbers. Despite injuries to key teammates like Chet Holmgren (50 games missed) and Isaiah Hartenstein (25), he elevated the Thunder to a historic point differential, outscoring opponents by over 1,000 points. His efficiency as a scorer, mastery in clutch moments, and leadership on the West's top seed make him the quintessential MVP: a player who transforms his team's fortunes. Voters often reward the best player on the best team, and Gilgeous-Alexander checks that box emphatically.
The Case for Nikola Jokić
Jokić's numbers are unprecedented, as the three-time MVP countered with one of the greatest statistical seasons ever. Averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, he became just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double over a full season. He's also the first ever to finish in the top three in points (3rd), rebounds (3rd), assists (2nd), and steals (2nd) per game. The Joker's efficiency and versatility — operating as a post-up big, perimeter playmaker, and screen-and-roll maestro while making 41.7% of 4.7 three-point attempts per game — make him an offensive system unto himself. Traditional and advanced metrics all classify his output as one of the most spectacular performances in the history of the league.
The Denver Nuggets, while a playoff team, did not achieve nearly the same level of success as the Thunder. Supporters of Jokić for MVP attribute this to a lack of talent surrounding their superstar, pointing to his teammates' struggles with him on the bench as evidence. Sure, Shai's team won more games, but he wasn't singlehandedly responsible for that. Denver won 50 games, but without Joker they likely would have been in the lottery.
Measuring Up to Other MVPs
The league's Most Valuable Player must stand out in a loaded field. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the third official finalist, posted 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, leading the Bucks to the playoffs despite an aging and flawed supporting cast. His dominance on both ends of the court remains impressive, but Milwaukee's struggles placed him firmly behind the other candidates. Voters have also become accustomed to the greatness of the Greek Freak, and he lacked a compelling narrative. He'll have to settle for the NBA Cup MVP which he won in December.
We don't need to turn the clocks back very far to find historical analogues for the efforts of the two favorites. Shai's performance echoed James Harden's 2018 MVP season in that both players led the league in scoring for teams that won 65+ games. The Joker's output, meanwhile, mirrored Russell Westbrook's 2017 MVP campaign since each player averaged a triple double for a middling team which overachieved. Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić played at an elite level, but SGA's edge in team success aligns with voter tendencies.
Why Shai Deserved to Win
Jokić's individual stats are otherworldly, but SGA's two-way brilliance, consistency, and leadership on a historically dominant Thunder team tipped the scales. OKC's 68 wins, record-breaking point differential, and top defensive rating highlight Shai's indispensable role, especially since his team had to overcome significant injuries. The Nuggets, while competitive, didn't match OKC's dominance, and voter fatigue from the Joker's three prior MVPs may also have played a factor in the outcome.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the third Thunder player to win MVP, joining Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and is only the second Canadian ever, joining two-time recipient Steve Nash. If he sustains this level of play, Shai could enter the all time great conversation. Jokić, with three MVPs, a championship, and a Finals MVP to his name, is already there. His legacy is secure, but his status as the consensus best player in the world doesn't inherently also make him the most valuable player of the current season.
What do you think? Did SGA's stellar play on both ends of the court make him a deserving 2025 MVP, or did Jokić's unprecedented statistics deserve the crown? Let us know on our social media and cast your vote at goat-vote.com/basketball/mvp.