Gilgeous-Alexander or Jokic: Who’s Taking Home the MVP?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had two previous NBA MVP winners in Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17). That neither one is still in OKC is another issue by itself. However, this season’s betting board is overwhelmingly suggesting a third Thunder player is taking home that hardware. 

NBA MVP odds in 2025 give the nod to league-leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, prohibitive MVP favorite, leading the Thunder to the best record (66-14 with two games remaining) in the regular season’s closing days.

Gilgeous-Alexander (through OKC’s first 80 games) was averaging 32.7 points, efficiently shooting nearly 52 percent in the process. As one would think, he’s also getting to the line (league-leading 7.9 free throws made/game). SGA, in his seventh season with the Thunder, increased his points per game each year while OKC is favored to win the 2025 title (first since departing Seattle).

This Gilgeous-Alexander season (and MVP favoritism) is made even more spectacular when one considers the numbers accumulated by the likely MVP bridesmaid. 

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, defending MVP (Gilgeous-Alexander was second) and thrice a winner of the award, is a statistical freak. Third in scoring (behind SGA and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo) at 29.8 points/game, and he’s also averaging 12.8 rebounds/10.2 assists.

Care to guess exactly how many players averaged a triple-double in the course of a season?

Try two, Oscar Robertson and the aforementioned Russell Westbrook, who did it four times,       

However, while Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder has rolled, Jokic’s Nuggets have not thrived.
Denver dismissed both its coach (Michael Malone) and general manager (Calvin Booth) in the season’s final week. It’s not as if the champs of two seasons ago are horrid, but they have given futile chase against the Thunder in the league’s Northwest Division and ballooned to more than 20-1 (+2000) to win the title. Jokic is totally blameless, however.    

Denver did make NBA news when it cleaned house so close to the start of the playoffs. Whether it produces dividends is debatable. 

It’s been a source of fodder for those who pay attention to NBA rumors. 

Here’s a bit of a primer on the 2025 NBA MVP award… 

Who Will Win MVP NBA 2025?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is well into minus-money in 2025 NBA MVP odds. Adding to what he’s done to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to the best record in the league is the fact OKC was (through 80 games) outscoring its opponents by more than a dozen points per game.

It doesn’t help the cause of Denver’s Nikola Jokic that, despite his off-the-charts season. He’s been a three-time MVP winner. There’s the “reward a first-timer” mentality in some circles.  

Who’s Favored to Win NBA MVP?

SGA. Next.

Does BetUS Have Constant Updates on 2025 NBA MVP Betting Odds? 

As was mentioned, looking at the NBA MVP odds, it’s not a question of whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins, but by what margin. His and his team’s season has been too good to ignore, 

Any Final Thoughts?

As with other sporting events or propositions on the board, the odds of winning the 2025 MVP award are fluid, but the needle is not moving that much in the regular season’s final days.