2024 NBA MVP Standings: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić’s competition for the top spot could resemble the West Finals
There’s no need to mince words as the NBA regular season draws to a close: Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets, the defending champion, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who is on the rise, appear to be the two front-runners for MVP.
Despite having rather different skill sets and methods of influencing the game, both are excellent difference makers. It demonstrates how, as the postseason draws closer, both of their teams are vying for first place in the Western Conference. It’s not implausible, in my opinion, to suggest that this MVP matchup may reflect the thrilling Western Conference Finals between the Nuggets and Thunder in late May.
This is not to suggest that the other celebrities on this list don’t deserve to win MVP; in fact, several of them do. The fact that Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander are competing for MVP before they may face off for a spot in this year’s NBA Finals intrigues me.
Let’s get started with the most recent update on the 2023–2024 MVP race following another wild week in the NBA. Draft Kings is the source of all odds.
This is due to Minnesota’s two disappointing losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings last week, which caused the Timberwolves to lose their position atop the Western Conference. Though Edwards has remained the sole truly reliable scoring option in Minnesota’s attack, the club that scored 88 points in an NBA game in 2024 is too strong for him to carry the load alone.
James has little chance of winning his fifth career MVP award unless he puts on a historic supernova performance for the remainder of the regular season, which would coincide with the Lakers being undefeated. That being said, it is noteworthy that, at 39 years old, the record holder can still carry his team like very few others. The fact that he is still doing this is incredible.
James was especially heroic last week, leading the Lakers to much-needed back-to-back victories over the Washington Wizards and Clippers (I know, I know). And he became the first player in history to score 40,000 points in a career. James is absolutely essential to the Lakers’ goals on the court, therefore, that merits acknowledgment in the award race.
Similar to Edwards, Leonard stays in the top 10 primarily due to the lack of formidable competitors at the bottom of this MVP race. The Clippers had a difficult week last week as they let the Los Angeles Lakers pull away from a 21-point fourth-quarter lead, failing to meet Phil Jackson’s infamous 40-before-20 rule.
Leonard might have crumbled here if it weren’t for his explosive 32-point outburst in a victory over Minnesota’s league-best defense. It matters that he is still managing to keep his team in the top four spots in the West.