ESPN Senior NBA Writer Tim Bontemps released his latest MVP straw poll on Friday. Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the leader by a wide margin. Bontemps releases the poll three times a year and the second one has SGA in the lead. The first poll was released on December 20. SGA was in second place in that one. This poll has been the best indicator of which player will be named NBA MVP.
The Oklahoma City Thunder Guard was the only player to appear on all 100 ballots recording 70 first-place votes and 30-second place votes. Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic finished in second place with 30 first-place votes, 69 second-place votes, and a lone third-place vote. Milwaukee Bucks Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had one second-place vote and 77 third-place votes. Will Gilgeous-Alexander win the NBA MVP later this year?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Season Summary
The latest MVP straw poll 👀pic.twitter.com/nzGutCvm91 https://t.co/FJGkubIaGP
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) February 14, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander is having the best season of his career this year. He leads the league in points per game and is 20th in assists. He has been the driving force behind the Oklahoma City Thunder being tied for the NBA’s best record in the first half of the regular season. The Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers have identical records.
Gilgeous-Alexander has had a solid NBA career, but the 2024-2025 season has been his best by a wide margin. He finished second in NBA MVP voting last season to Jokic and will look to flip the script on the Denver Nuggets big man this year. Jokic won the award by a wide margin last season with SGA finishing a distant second.
Final Thoughts
It will be a two-man race for the NBA MVP between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic as the straw poll illustrated. The MVP odds reflect that as well with SGA holding a sizable advantage. Gilgeous-Alexander will look to showcase his skills on a national stage in tomorrow’s NBA All-Star Game. He was drafted to Charles Barkley’s team.
SGA and the Oklahoma City Thunder return to the court on February 21 on the road against the Utah Jazz. He will look to continue putting up MVP-caliber numbers and help the Thunder maintain their spot atop the Western Conference and the NBA.
