Nikola Jokic’s Standing in the Latest NBA MVP Rankings
The NBA released its latest MVP Ladder on Friday, with the top rankings remaining unchanged. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead the race, while Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic holds the second spot. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks sits in third, but the competition for MVP appears to be primarily between Shai and Jokic.
Both players have delivered outstanding performances this season, making strong cases for the award. However, only one can claim the title, and Shai remains the frontrunner. He has led the Thunder to a league-best 44-10 record, tying with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top spot in the NBA and securing first place in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Jokic has guided Denver to a 36-19 record, positioning them third in the West, just half a game behind the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. The Nuggets have been on fire lately, entering the All-Star break with an eight-game winning streak.
Despite Shai’s dominance, Jokic is arguably having the best season of his career. The 29-year-old center is averaging 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting an impressive 57.7% from the field and 45.0% from beyond the arc. He ranks in the top four in points, rebounds, and assists per game while leading the league with 25 triple-doubles—matching his total from last season. If Jokic maintains his triple-double average, he will join Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to achieve this feat.
While Jokic is undoubtedly having another MVP-worthy season, he must sustain his exceptional play to overtake Shai in the race for the award.
