Stop overthinking it. The 2024–25 NBA MVP race may be packed with worthy candidates, but when the dust settles, there is only one name that belongs on the trophy.
Nikola Jokić. Again.
Yes, again. Because what the Denver Nuggets’ center is doing this season isn’t just MVP-worthy, it is era-defining. We are watching one of the greatest individual stretches in modern basketball history, and somehow, we are beginning to grow bored of his brilliance.
Let’s take a step back and appreciate what Jokić is accomplishing. He’s averaging a near triple-double with historic efficiency. He leads the Nuggets in points, rebounds, assists, and even sneaky hustle stats like deflections and box-outs. He is the best passing big man the game has ever seen. The Nuggets might not be as dominant as SGA’s Thunder, but they remain among the best teams in the NBA.
Just as important as his own stats, the Joker makes everyone around him better. Jamal Murray plays like an All-Star when Jokic is healthy, especially in big moments and during the playoffs. Michael Porter Jr. has been thriving off-ball because Jokic creates space and angles out of thin air. Denver’s system is complex, smart, and completely centered around a 7-footer who sees the game like a point guard and moves like a glacier; yet somehow no one can stop him.
The advanced stats back up the Joker’s claim to the MVP trophy. Jokić leads the league in nearly every catch-all metric: Win Shares, Player Efficiency Rating (PER), Box Plus/Minus, Value Over Replacement Player. This isn’t just nerdy number stuff, it is representative of statistical dominance that echoes across eras.
Still, the “voter fatigue” whispers are creeping in. Some say it’s boring to give Jokić his third MVP in four years. But if the point of the award is to honor the most valuable player – not the most entertaining, not the best storyline, not the guy who hasn’t won it yet – then what is the hesitation?
Luka might be flashier. Shai might be the sentimental favorite. But neither of them do more for their team than Jokić does for Denver. He’s not just the engine, he is the gas, the steering wheel and the guy designing the car.
People forget: he already proved the doubters wrong. He won two MVPs, then followed that up with a Finals MVP and a championship. This season? He has somehow become even more dominant.
If you are looking for a player who elevates his team, dominates consistently and makes the game look effortless, there is only one answer.
Give the MVP to Nikola Jokić. He has set the bar for the rest of the league; don’t blame him that he is the only one who can reach it.
