NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) ladder race 2024-25 season: Top 5 candidates ft. Donovan Mitchell (Week 6)   

Donovan Mitchell is back in the fray in our weekly NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) rankings as the league caps off Week 6 on a high note. LA Lakers big Anthony Davis with his quiet few games and a string of Lakers losses, makes way for the explosive guard who takes fifth place.

Mitchell's Sunday night heroics against the Boston Celtics in a battle of the No. 1 vs No. 2 seed further cements his case as a big-game performer. The bigs continue to dominate Week 6 of the NBA MVP ladder with a shakeup as Giannis Antetokounmpo takes the No. 1 spot. Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum go down a position, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finds a spot in the five.

On that note, here's a look at our top five MVP candidates as Week 6 comes to an end.

---

NBA MVP ladder race 2024-25 season: Top 5 candidates ft. Donovan Mitchell (Week 6)

#5 Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers: 18-3 | W-L record in Week 6: 1-2

Donovan Mitchell - Cleveland Cavaliers

It hasn't been a clinical week for Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers by their standards. They blew both their games against the Atlanta Hawks despite the guard's 30-point effort in the first game. He had an off-day in the second with just 12 points on 21.7% shooting from the field.

Stats	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Week 6	25.7	7.3	5.3	2.0	0.7	39.7	34.3
Overall	24.1	4.7	4.0	1.5	0.3	45.1	38.9

The skirmish against the Boston Celtics saw Mitchell roar back to form with a 35-point performance coupled with seven rebounds and three assists. Mitchell's productive field day saw Cleveland snap their two-game skid and defend their top spot in the East. They continue to be the side with the least losses (3) in their 21 games so far.

---

#4 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC Thunder: 15-5 | W-L record in Week 6: 3-1

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be on a tear for the Thunder as the side rattled off three wins in four games in an eventful Week 6. One of his best performances was in the marquee Emirates NBA Cup showdown against the LA Lakers, propping up 36 points and nine assists in OKC's 101-93 to eliminate the defending champions from the tournament.

Stats	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Week 6	35.0	6.8	7.5	1.3	0.8	51.6	36.1
Overall	29.8	5.3	6.6	1.7	1.1	50.3	33.9

SGA's consistency and lethal scoring prowess see him hold on to a spot in the top five NBA MVP rankings. A surge is on the cards if he can help OKC pull off three more wins and separate themselves from the pack in a stacked West.

---

#3 Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics: 16-4 | W-L record in Week 6: 2-1

Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics

Giannis Antetokounmpo's meteoric surge and a Boston Celtics loss in a key matchup against the Cavaliers in Week 6 sees Jayson Tatum slip two rungs. However, the forward has been sensational for the defending champions as he continues to chalk up big numbers. The highlight game was his 33-point double-double in the 138-129 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Stats	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Week 6	29.3	10.3	4.7	0.7	1.3	51.7	43.5
Overall	28.7	8.5	5.8	1.4	0.6	46.1	37.8

Tatum continues to be the Celtics' leader in points, rebounds, and assists, making his case to win NBA MVP. Tatum and the Celtics have a challenging week coming up facing the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks. If Tatum can indeed keep up his rich vein of form, the Boston mainstay can cement himself as one of the frontrunners for the honors.

---

#2 Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets: 10-8 | W-L record in Week 6: 1-2

Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets capped off Week 6 with a 1-2 record — one that dents his top spot in the NBA MVP ladder. The Serbian big continues to be a force, but injuries and inconsistencies saw Denver undone by the New York Knicks and the LA Clippers.

Stats	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Week 6	26.7	10.3	8.3	1.0	0.7	54.0	35.3
Overall	29.7	13.1	10.6	1.5	0.9	56.8	53.4

Jokic's numbers remain steady overall, but the losses see his stocks take a hit. The center is now fourth overall in points per game, second in assists, and continues to be the NBA 2024-25 season leader in rebounds.

---

#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks: 10-9 | W-L record in Week 6: 2-0

Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks

And just like that, the Milwaukee Bucks who started their season 1-6 are now 10-9 to take the fifth seed in the East. They are just two wins below the New York Knicks, and credit for their rapid rise goes solely to Giannis Antetokounmpo for his monstrous run in his last few games.

Stats	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Week 6	42.0	12.0	11.0	0.0	1.0	62.5	0.0
Overall	32.9	11.9	6.6	0.5	1.4	60.9	21.4

Antetokounmpo has three triple-doubles and two double-doubles in his last five games. The 'Greek Freak' leads the league in points (32.9) and is fifth in rebounds (11.9) as the Bucks have on six straight games. Antetokounmpo has been a man on a mission with two 40+ point games in his last five outings. He takes the No. 1 spot for his electric run in Week 6.