The 2024-25 NBA season delivered one of the most thrilling MVP races in recent memory, culminating in Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander edging out Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić for the coveted Michael Jordan Trophy. With SGA securing 71 first-place votes to Jokić’s 29, the announcement on May 21, 2025, sparked heated debates across the basketball world. Was SGA’s win a triumph of team success and two-way brilliance, or did Jokić’s historic statistical season get unfairly overlooked due to voter fatigue? Let’s dive into the controversy and unpack why this decision has fans, analysts, and even NBA legends like Shaquille O’Neal buzzing.
SGA’s Case: The Best Player on the Best Team
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP campaign was nothing short of spectacular. Leading the Thunder to a franchise-record 68-14 season—the best in the NBA and a historic +12.9 point differential—SGA proved he was the engine of a juggernaut. His stats were eye-popping: a league-leading 32.7 points per game, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and a rare blend of efficiency (51.9% FG, 37.5% 3P) and defensive prowess (1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks per game). He joined Michael Jordan as the only players to average 32+ points, 6+ assists, and 50%+ field goal shooting in a season, a feat that underscores his offensive dominance.
Beyond the numbers, SGA’s leadership of a young Thunder squad to the Western Conference’s top seed by a 16-game margin over the second-place Houston Rockets was a defining factor. His ability to deliver in big moments—13 games with 40+ points, including four 50-point outbursts—cemented his clutch reputation. Defensively, he was a cornerstone of the NBA’s top-rated defense (106.6 defensive rating), leveraging his 6’6” frame and 6’11” wingspan to disrupt opponents. Analysts like Chris Broussard praised SGA’s two-way impact, noting he “led the youngest team in the NBA ever to 60-plus wins” while playing “all-league level defense.”
The narrative around SGA was clear: he was the best player on the league’s best team, a classic MVP archetype. Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with voices like @TheDunkCentral quoting Anthony Edwards calling SGA the MVP and even suggesting he deserved it over Jokić last year.
Jokić’s Case: A Statistical Masterpiece Overshadowed?
On the other hand, Nikola Jokić’s 2024-25 season was a statistical marvel that many argue should have secured his fourth MVP in five years. Averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, Jokić became only the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. His 61-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist game against Minnesota and a 31-point, 21-rebound, 22-assist masterpiece against Phoenix were historic feats, with the latter being the NBA’s first 30-20-20 game.
Jokić’s advanced metrics were equally jaw-dropping. His 32.04 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) was the fourth-highest in NBA history, trailing only his own 2021-22 season, Wilt Chamberlain, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He led the league in points generated (53.6 per game) and ranked top three in scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals while shooting 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from three. Yet, the Nuggets’ 50-32 record and 21st-ranked defense (114.8 defensive rating) paled in comparison to OKC’s dominance, a gap some attributed to Jokić’s lack of supporting cast, with Jamal Murray underperforming and Aaron Gordon missing 31 games.
Jokić’s camp, including former coach Michael Malone and teammate Christian Braun, argued his value was unmatched. Malone famously claimed that if you compared Jokić’s stats to an anonymous “Player B,” he’d win MVP “10 times out of 10.” On X, @lfcf41 highlighted the disparity in scrutiny, noting Jokić could “drop a nice statline” and reignite MVP chatter, while SGA faced relentless pressure to be perfect.
Voter Fatigue or Fair Evaluation?
The heart of the controversy lies in whether voter fatigue tipped the scales against Jokić. Having won three of the last four MVPs, Jokić faced a narrative hurdle, with some voters openly admitting they prioritized SGA’s first-time candidacy. A Bleacher Report analysis suggested that “prominent voters” dismissed Jokić’s case with sentiments like “I don’t care what Jokić does,” pointing to his prior awards as a reason to favor SGA. Shaquille O’Neal was vocal, telling Jokić directly on air that he believed SGA’s win was undeserved, saying, “I’m not happy with this one.”
Critics of SGA’s win argue that Jokić’s unprecedented statistical season—described as “Wilt Chamberlain-esque” by an NBA scout—should have outweighed OKC’s team success, especially given Denver’s thinner roster. However, SGA’s supporters counter that his two-way impact and leadership of a historically dominant team align with traditional MVP criteria, where team success often trumps individual stats. The Athletic noted that while Jokić’s on-off splits (+20.4 points per 100 possessions) were elite, SGA’s +14.7 and league-leading win shares (.309 per 48 minutes) were nearly as impressive, especially on a 68-win team.
A Clash of Philosophies
The 2024-25 MVP race wasn’t just about numbers; it was a clash of philosophies. SGA’s win reflects the value placed on leading a dominant team with balanced excellence, while Jokić’s case highlights the awe-inspiring individual brilliance that can elevate a lesser roster. The playoff matchup between the Thunder and Nuggets, where OKC ousted Denver in a seven-game series, added fuel to the debate, though it had no bearing on the regular-season award.
Ultimately, the controversy underscores the subjective nature of “value” in MVP voting. Did SGA deserve it for his all-around mastery and historic team success? Or was Jokić robbed by voters hesitant to crown him again? The truth likely lies in the middle: both players had all-time seasons, and the choice came down to narrative and voter priorities. What’s undeniable is that this debate will linger, fueling barbershop arguments and X threads for years to come.
What do you think? Was SGA the right choice, or did Jokić’s historic season deserve the nod? Drop your take in the comments!
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