With just a few games left in the season, the 2024 NBA MVP race appears to be over. However, this has been an exciting season, and the playoff race has been very close, especially in the Western Conference, so there could be some surprise in store.
Once again, Nikola Jokic is at the top of the contenders for the NBA Most Valuable Player award, and while oddsmakers give him a roughly 90% chance of taking home the award, there is plenty of talent in the league, and several players could give him a run for his money. With that in mind, we'll talk about each of the potential candidates.
5. Jayson Tatum
The Boston Celtics were the best team in the league by a landslide, so it's strange to see that Jayson Tatum wasn't considered a front-runner for this award. Talk about his shortcomings in the playoffs may have had a big impact on his chances, although people should just focus on what he did this season.
Tatum has been more mature and efficient this season, knowing that he doesn't need to do everything for his team to win. He's averaging 27.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, which apparently aren't MVP-worthy numbers anymore.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
It's been a long time since Giannis Antetokounmpo was considered the best player on the planet, but he's still near the top. The Greek maniac is a dominating presence on both ends of the court, and was the key figure behind the Milwaukee Bucks' late-season turnaround.
Over the course of the season, he averaged 30.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, so his numbers haven't completely declined with Damian Lillard on the court. However, it seems that people don't like what he does anymore.
3. Luka Doncic
Speaking of getting used to greatness, people seem to have normalized the records Luka Doncic sets in video games every night. As of now, the former Real Madrid star sits near the top of the MVP ladder averaging 33.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 9.8 dimes per contest.
The final point going forward is that Doncic is also putting in some effort on defense for a change. The Dallas Mavericks have been one of the best teams in the league since the All-Star break, and while he may not be the MVP of the season, Doncic can carry this team to the biggest stage in the playoffs.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
It's crazy to think that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to contention for the top seed in the Western Conference for most of the season, yet he may end up missing out on the MVP award. This team is way ahead of schedule, and a lot of that is due to their great play on both ends of the court.
The Canadian guard has posted Michael Jordan-like numbers this season. He averages 30.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. The Thunder may be one step away from being an NBA Championship contender, but Shai is thriving before our eyes.
1. Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic should already be considered one of the greatest centers in NBA history, and he's not even close to being that. He's the favorite to take home the award again this season, and could end up with as many NBA MVPs if he continues on this pace, as he would have won three of the last four.
The Joker is the most exciting player in basketball right now. He is no longer a liability defensively, and the Nuggets should be considered the team to beat until proven otherwise. Right now, he's thriving by averaging 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game.
