May 21, 2025 - Sports

Jokić loses NBA MVP to Thunder guard Gilgeous-Alexander

Esteban L. Hernandez

Two men playing basketball, with one man handling a ball while moving forward. — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dribbles against Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets during Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 7 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Photo: Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beat out Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for the 2024-25 season, the league announced Wednesday.

The big picture: Denver's superstar center was on the cusp of becoming the third player in NBA history to win four MVPs in five years, but ended as runner-up behind Gilgeous-Alexander.

This year's race was considered among the closest in years.

Between the lines: Jokić, who was also runner-up in 2023, finished in the top two in MVP voting for the fifth consecutive year, becoming the first since Larry Bird in 1986 to accomplish the feat, per ESPN.

Why it matters: Jokić losing the award during his most statistically impressive season makes Gilgeous-Alexander's win even harder to swallow for the Nuggets, after OKC eliminated Denver on Sunday.

26-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC to the NBA's best regular-season record while claiming the league's scoring title.
Jokić finished the regular season averaging a triple-double, becoming the third player in league history to achieve the feat.

State of play: Jokić, 30, helped the Nuggets get to round 2 of the 2025 playoffs, but came up short, losing the series 4-3 overall.

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Jokić loses NBA MVP to Thunder guard Gilgeous-Alexander

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