Joel Piton's Top-8 MVP Candidates for the 2025 NBA Season
- Joel Piton
- Aug 29
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 1
The 2024–25 season was all Shai all the time. Despite yet another historic performance by Nikola Jokic—Shai's single-season campaign was nothing short of remarkable. An MVP, Finals MVP, champion, and scoring leader all in one year—his resume was as airtight as it gets. But heading into this season, do things remain clear-cut? Are there any names poised to challenge him? Simply put, Shai may still be the favorite, but he’s not untouchable. Here are the eight players with the best shot to take the MVP crown in 2025–26.
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Luka Doncic
2024-25 Stats : 28.2 PPG | 8.2 REB | 7.7 AST | 45.0 FG%
Luka Doncic looks like a brand-new player heading into the 2025–26 season. After putting basketball aside for a month to focus strictly on conditioning, Luka dropped serious weight and reemerged in the best shape of his career. The difference has already shown—he’s been absolutely dominating for Slovenia in Olympic play this offseason. What makes this transformation so scary is the context: two years ago, Luka led the league in scoring and carried his team to the NBA Finals despite having a questionable frame, leading him to be criticized for his conditioning. Now, with his body right and his prime years just beginning, the ceiling feels limitless. Luka could be on the verge of a truly historic season—one that could pay dividends for LeBron James as the king embarks on what might be his last run.
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Giannis Antetokunmpo
2024-25 Stats : 30.4 PPG | 11.9 REB | 6.5 AST | 60.1 FG%
At this point, Giannis is automatic when it comes to MVP conversations. The 6’11 forward has averaged 30 points per game for three straight seasons, pairing that scoring punch with elite rebounding, playmaking, and suffocating defense. Even as he enters his 30s, Giannis continues to set the standard for two-way basketball, proving there’s still nobody like him in the league. But the challenge isn’t individual—it's team success.
The Bucks’ roster feels shakier than it has in years, and while the MVP trophy is awarded to players, the reality is that standings and playoff seeding matter just as much. Giannis is light years ahead of the rest of his team, and he’ll be asked to shoulder more than his share of the load. If Milwaukee falters and misses the postseason, the MVP conversation won’t matter. Still, if anyone can drag a shaky roster to the top half of the East, it’s the Greek Freak.
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Anthony Edwards
2024-25 Stats : 27.6 PPG | 5.7 REB | 4.5 AST | 44.7 FG%
Anthony Edwards has improved statistically every season, and this summer he practically lived in the gym. Now entering year six, the 24-year-old is fresh off back-to-back All-NBA Second Team selections and looks poised to take yet another leap. Offensively, Edwards can do it all: he shoots threes at a high volume with solid efficiency, glides to the rim with highlight-level athleticism, and creates scoring opportunities from virtually anywhere on the court. Just as important, his defense has steadily grown to the point where he’s becoming a two-way force.
The Timberwolves enter the season with virtually the same roster as last year, save for the addition of a young draft pick. That continuity could be Edwards’ biggest weapon—this team already has the pieces to make another conference finals run, and Ant-Man is clearly the centerpiece. If his game climbs to another level, it’s hard to imagine him not being at the heart of the MVP conversation.
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Donovan Mitchell
2024-25 Stats : 24.0 PPG | 4.5 REB | 5.0 AST | 44.3 FG%
Spida Mitchell just led the Cavaliers to a 64–18 record, the best mark in the Eastern Conference, and in the process proved he’s more than just a high-volume scorer—he’s a franchise player. At 28, the All-NBA First Team guard is entering his prime and solidifying himself as the best shooting guard in the game today. Mitchell’s shot selection has grown sharper each season, and his offensive versatility makes him a nightmare for defenses in the modern NBA.
While his scoring dipped slightly last year, don’t be fooled—it had more to do with Cleveland’s depth than Mitchell himself. With multiple teammates capable of putting up 20 points on any given night, his own numbers shrank, but his overall impact only grew. This team’s success starts with him, and as the Cavs’ younger core continues to develop, Mitchell’s MVP case gets stronger. If Cleveland builds on its dominance from a season ago, Mitchell will absolutely remain in the thick of the race.
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Jalen Brunson
2024-25 Stats : 26.0 PPG | 2.9 REB | 7.3 AST | 48.8 FG%
No player embodied heart and grit last season quite like Jalen Brunson. Averaging 26 points, seven assists, and three rebounds on nearly 50% shooting, Brunson put up elite numbers despite playing alongside a Knicks roster loaded with scorers. Time and time again, he proved to be the heartbeat of MSG, the guy who set the tone and carried the squad through crunch time. The Knicks finished 51–31, and with Karl-Anthony Towns now on board, New York looks like a complete playoff team inside and out. Still, make no mistake—this answers to Brunson. His leadership, shot-making, and toughness are what separate him from the pack, and right now the list of point guards clearly better than him is razor thin. If the Knicks rise to the top of the East, Brunson’s name will belong in the MVP race. Simply put—he’s the real deal.
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Nikola Jokic
2024-25 Stats : 29.6 PPG | 12.7 REB | 10.2 AST | 57.6 FG%
Nikola Jokic had a career year in 2024–25, finishing second in MVP voting—though he easily could’ve picked up his fourth trophy. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, Jokic became just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season, and the only big man to ever achieve it. He looked unstoppable offensively, scoring from everywhere on the floor on 57% shooting, while his absurd assist-to-turnover ratio once again cemented him as arguably the best passer in the league.
As the new season approaches, Jokic hasn’t slowed down one bit—he’s continued to dominate international play for Team Serbia, reminding everyone that his game is simply built different. At 30, he’s already firmly in the conversation as one of the greatest players of all time, and with his consistency, we’ll likely see him in MVP talks for the next half-decade. If the Nuggets can climb back into the title picture, don’t be surprised if Jokic adds more hardware to his overflowing résumé.
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Victor Wembanyama
2024-25 Stats : 24.3 PPG | 11.0 REB | 3.7 AST | 47.6 FG%
Hear me out—yes, Wemby is a 21-year-old coming off an injury-prone season, and just entering his third year. But a Derrick Rose–style breakout campaign isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. At 7’4” with guard skills, limitless shooting range, and a basketball IQ well beyond his years, Wemby is unlike anything the league has ever seen. The French phenom has already led the NBA in blocks in back-to-back seasons—and it wasn’t even close.
What makes him truly terrifying, though, is the offensive leap he’s poised to take. Wembanyama can put up 25 points on any given night, even against elite defenders, and his playmaking ability as an unselfish, winning-first big man continues to grow. He’s a do-it-all anomaly who’s been putting in elite work all offseason, waiting for the moment to unleash it on the court. Now that he’s healthy, it’s scary to think just how dominant Wemby could be in year three—possibly dominant enough to crash the MVP conversation much sooner than anyone expected.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2024-25 Stats : 32.7 PPG | 5.0 REB | 6.4 AST | 51.9 FG%
The reigning MVP, Finals MVP, scoring champion, and NBA champion—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just put together one of the most dominant individual campaigns in league history. A season so stacked with accolades it feels almost impossible to replicate, yet he's walking into 2025–26 as the clear favorite to do it again. At 6’6”, Shai is virtually unguardable—he gets to his spots with ease, torches defenses from the midrange, and punishes anyone who tries to cut him off at the rim.
Just as impressive, he’s evolved into an elite defender and steady playmaker, maximizing every possession on both ends of the floor. Winning MVP is hard. Winning it again is even harder. But with the Thunder fresh off a championship run, a loaded roster around him, and Shai in his prime, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be right back in the middle of the conversation. The crown is his to lose.
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While Shai remains the frontrunner, don’t be surprised to see each of these names show up on the MVP tracker throughout the season. Whether it’s Luka taking command in L.A., Wemby cementing himself as San Antonio’s alpha, Edwards forcing his way into superstardom, or Jokic reminding everyone he’s still the most complete offensive weapon alive—these guys are coming for the crown.
Need more hoops coverage to carry you through the offseason? Look no further. Stay tuned to SportzNation for all your basketball news as tip-off creeps closer.
Thanks for reading!
Joel Piton
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