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With only 10 days left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the MVP award is still very much up for grabs.
Those in the running are sprinting toward the finish line. OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the pack in NBA.com's latest MVP ladder, which released Friday, but Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic isn't far behind after a historic performance.
Here's a complete look at the MVP ladder.
More: Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder hold off Pistons to wrap up NBA-record 29-1 mark vs. East
Even on a night when he didn't shoot efficiently, Gilgeous-Alexander still managed to score 33 points in OKC's 119-103 home win over Detroit on Wednesday. He leads the league in 50, 40, 30 and 20-point games.
Gilgeous-Alexander continues to light up the scoreboard for the Thunder (64-12), which boasts the best record in the NBA. With six games remaining, OKC has a chance to become just the third 70-win team in league history.
More: NBA's 70-win club, SGA's MVP chase and 10 things to watch in OKC Thunder's final 10 games
Jokic erupted for 61 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 140-139 double-overtime home loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. That marked the most points scored by any player this season and only the third 60-point triple double in NBA history.
Jokic is on pace to become just the third player in league history to average a triple-double for an entire season. Russell Westbrook did it four times, and Oscar Robertson did it once.
More: How did Mark Daigneault and Billy Donovan meet? Unlikely introduction is quite the tale
Antetokounmpo racked up 35 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists in Milwaukee's 126-113 road win over Philadelphia on Thursday. He became the first player to ever record that stat line.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are the frontrunners, but Antetokounmpo is still putting up MVP-caliber numbers. He's averaging a 30-point double-double while ranking sixth in the NBA in field goal percentage (60.2%).
More: OKC Thunder's domination of NBA's Eastern Conference is complete: By the numbers
Tatum's lone game this week came during Boston's 124-103 home loss to Miami on Wednesday. He went 4 for 17 from the field (23.5%) and finished with 16 points and seven assists.
Despite struggling to score in that one, Tatum continues to show his improvement as a facilitator. He's averaging a career-best 5.9 assists per game.
More: Inside Josh Giddey's 'really special' return to OKC for Thunder-Bulls game
Curry recorded 52 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in Golden State's 134-125 road win over Memphis on Tuesday. He then scored 37 points to lead his team past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
Curry, 37, last won MVP in 2016. Jokic was a rookie, and Gilgeous-Alexander was still in high school.
More: Why OKC Thunder assistant Mike Wilks is 'a better coach' thanks to son Isaiah | Mussatto
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers; Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA MVP ladder: OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still first
Continue reading...
Those in the running are sprinting toward the finish line. OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the pack in NBA.com's latest MVP ladder, which released Friday, but Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic isn't far behind after a historic performance.
Here's a complete look at the MVP ladder.
More: Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder hold off Pistons to wrap up NBA-record 29-1 mark vs. East
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder
- Last week's ranking: No. 1
- Season stats: 32.8 points, 5 rebounds and 6.3 assists
Even on a night when he didn't shoot efficiently, Gilgeous-Alexander still managed to score 33 points in OKC's 119-103 home win over Detroit on Wednesday. He leads the league in 50, 40, 30 and 20-point games.
Gilgeous-Alexander continues to light up the scoreboard for the Thunder (64-12), which boasts the best record in the NBA. With six games remaining, OKC has a chance to become just the third 70-win team in league history.
More: NBA's 70-win club, SGA's MVP chase and 10 things to watch in OKC Thunder's final 10 games
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Last week's ranking: No. 2
- Season stats: 29.7 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists
Jokic erupted for 61 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 140-139 double-overtime home loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. That marked the most points scored by any player this season and only the third 60-point triple double in NBA history.
Jokic is on pace to become just the third player in league history to average a triple-double for an entire season. Russell Westbrook did it four times, and Oscar Robertson did it once.
More: How did Mark Daigneault and Billy Donovan meet? Unlikely introduction is quite the tale
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Last week's ranking: No. 3
- Season stats: 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists
Antetokounmpo racked up 35 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists in Milwaukee's 126-113 road win over Philadelphia on Thursday. He became the first player to ever record that stat line.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are the frontrunners, but Antetokounmpo is still putting up MVP-caliber numbers. He's averaging a 30-point double-double while ranking sixth in the NBA in field goal percentage (60.2%).
More: OKC Thunder's domination of NBA's Eastern Conference is complete: By the numbers
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Last week's ranking: No. 4
- Season stats: 27 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists
Tatum's lone game this week came during Boston's 124-103 home loss to Miami on Wednesday. He went 4 for 17 from the field (23.5%) and finished with 16 points and seven assists.
Despite struggling to score in that one, Tatum continues to show his improvement as a facilitator. He's averaging a career-best 5.9 assists per game.
More: Inside Josh Giddey's 'really special' return to OKC for Thunder-Bulls game
5. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Last week's ranking: No. 7
- Season stats: 24.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists
Curry recorded 52 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in Golden State's 134-125 road win over Memphis on Tuesday. He then scored 37 points to lead his team past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
Curry, 37, last won MVP in 2016. Jokic was a rookie, and Gilgeous-Alexander was still in high school.
More: Why OKC Thunder assistant Mike Wilks is 'a better coach' thanks to son Isaiah | Mussatto
The next five
- 6. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 6 last week)
- 7. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (No. 5 last week)
- 8. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (No. 8 last week)
- 9. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (Not ranked last week)
- 10. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets (No. 10 last week)
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers; Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA MVP ladder: OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still first
Continue reading...
