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Nikola Joki\u0107 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are each closing the season out in the top 5 in scoring.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Get NBA League Pass TODAY ><\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a question with one week left in the race for the Kia MVP:<\/p>\n How will history reflect on the 2024-25 runner-up?<\/p>\n Will it say Nikola Joki\u0107 was unfairly treated?<\/p>\n Will it say Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was robbed?<\/p>\n This topic needs to be raised because one of two deserving candidates \u2014 and it is a two-man race right now and has been for a while \u2014 will walk away with parting gifts (as in, a \u201cnice try\u201d comment or two).<\/p>\n There are a few such controversial cases in NBA history<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u2022 Michael Jordan won 69 games and led the league in scoring in 1997 \u2014 and lost to Karl Malone.<\/p>\n \u2022 Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in one game, averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds \u2014 and lost to Bill Russell in 1962.<\/p>\n \u2022 And Shaquille O\u2019Neal swears he deserved<\/a> Steve Nash\u2019s trophy in 2005.<\/p>\n This is a close race because Shai and Joker are finalizing historic seasons. Suppose Joki\u0107 arguably has the edge purely from an individual standpoint. In that case, Shai either pulls even or wipes out that deficit based on Oklahoma City\u2019s dominant season and massive lead in the Western Conference standings.<\/p>\n So maybe the question is: How much should winning weigh in the conversation for an individual award?<\/p>\n That\u2019s something every voter must decide for themselves.<\/p>\n Coming next week: The Kia MVP Ladder envelope, please.<\/p>\n Setting the stage this week: Multi-time MVP winners will share the floor Friday when the Nuggets and Warriors play. The battle between Joki\u0107 and Stephen Curry could be a potential first-round playoff preview. This game has serious seeding implications in the West, with both teams jostling for position<\/a>.<\/p>\n The stat to know: Joki\u0107 has a 60-10-10 game and a 30-20-20 game, both historic, both in the same season. Which one was more impressive? That\u2019s like choosing between your favorite twin child.<\/p>\n What they are saying: \u201cNikola Joki\u0107, bruh? Oh my God, he might be the best basketball player I\u2019ve ever seen close up \u2026 the MVP race is crazy, man. I don\u2019t know. I just don\u2019t know.\u201d \u2014 Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves after Jokic dropped a 61-point triple<\/a> on Minnesota.<\/p>\n 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n Last ranking:<\/a> No. 1 His case: He leads the league in 50, 40, 30 and 20-point games. He scores with solid efficiency. And he\u2019s one of the two best defenders on the league\u2019s best defensive team.<\/p>\n That two-way balance, coupled with OKC bearing down on 65-plus wins, comprises an MVP. Whether he actually gets the award will be revealed next month.<\/p>\n SGA SHOWING OFF THE HANDLE PACKAGE \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8 pic.twitter.com\/DkQNjFCuOs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA (@NBA) April 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Nikola Joki\u0107, Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n Last ranking:<\/a> No. 2 His case: He\u2019s among the league leaders in scoring<\/a>, rebounds<\/a>, assists<\/a> and steals<\/a>. He is by far the triple-double leader; he actually averages such. And he has a tendency to stockpile monster games like we\u2019ve never seen before.<\/p>\n He\u2019s coming off a 61-10-10<\/a>, which would be an astronomical feat for about 99.9% of the league. For the Joker? That might not be his best performance of the season.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udccf NIKOLA JOKI\u0106, A GAME FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS \ud83c\udccf<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd2f 61 PTS An all-time showing from an all-time player! pic.twitter.com\/fdFyl2RyHU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n Last ranking:<\/a> No. 3 His case: Pencil Giannis in for 30 points and 10 rebounds whenever he\u2019s penciled in the lineup, which lately hasn\u2019t been too frequent. Once again, outside of Shai and Joker, no one has played at a consistently high level like Giannis.<\/p>\n With Damian Lillard\u2019s injury uncertainty, Giannis\u2019 worth to the Bucks is even higher. There\u2019s a chance Giannis could finish with a worse record this season than anyone in the Ladder\u2019s top five.<\/p>\n GIANNIS IS THE FIRST PLAYER IN NBA HISTORY TO RECORD THIS STAT LINE \ud83e\udd2f\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n 35 PTS \u2014 NBA (@NBA) April 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics<\/p>\n Last ranking:<\/a> No. 4 His case: With his two closest competitors, Kevin Durant and Jalen Brunson, dealing with injury issues, Tatum is all but guaranteed to finish in the top five in scoring.<\/p>\n He finished March forcefully, averaging 27.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists. A top-five MVP finish seems likely at this stage.<\/p>\n 5. Stephen Curry, Warriors<\/p>\n Last ranking:<\/a> No. 7 His case: When he started the season slowly, missing 3s and stuck in inefficiency, Curry didn\u2019t seem himself. Was he beginning the slow journey beyond his prime? Well, his response has been emphatic, to say the least.<\/p>\n Curry has been among the league\u2019s better players since February, where he averaged 30.7 points that month. Not to mention the pair of 50-pieces afterward. Not to diminish the impact of newcomer Jimmy Butler \u2014 he has been helpful \u2014 but the Warriors\u2019 rally began when Curry improved.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 STEPH CURRY MASTERCLASS IN MEMPHIS \ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf73 52 PTS A stellar performance from the Warriors superstar as he propels GSW to the #5 seed in the West! pic.twitter.com\/fGYztIWpJu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The Next 5<\/p>\n 6. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; James Harden, LA Clippers; Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him\u00a0here<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.<\/p>\n
Season stats:<\/a> 32.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists<\/p>\n
Season stats:<\/a> 29.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.2 assists<\/p>\n
\ud83e\udd2f 10 REB
\ud83e\udd2f 10 AST
\ud83e\udd2f 6 3PM
\ud83e\udd2f 2 STL<\/p>\n
Season stats:<\/a> 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists<\/p>\n
20 AST
17 REB pic.twitter.com\/pMAh4dXGz2<\/a><\/p>\n
Season stats:<\/a> 27.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists<\/p>\n
Season stats:<\/a> 24.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udf73 12 3PM
\ud83c\udf73 10 REB
\ud83c\udf73 8 AST
\ud83c\udf73 5 STL<\/p>\n
7. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
8. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
9. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets<\/p>\n