NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) ladder race 2024-25 season: Top 5 candidates ft. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Week 10)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the OKC Thunder is finally on top of the NBA Most Valuable Player ladder race for Week 10. SGA has been playing great for the Thunder this season, leading them to the second-best record in the league. It is despite not having Chet Holmgren down the middle due to injury.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, dropped to third place after spending last week on top. "The Greek Freak" has not played since Dec. 21 because of an unspecified illness. Nikola Jokic is just behind SGA, while Donovan Mitchell retained his place and Karl-Anthony Towns cracked the top five.

Let's look at the NBA MVP rankings for Week 10.

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NBA Most Valuable Player Ladder Race - Week 10

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#1 - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC Thunder (26-5) | 4-0 in Week 10

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC Thunder (Photo: IMAGN)

The OKC Thunder have the second-best record in the NBA because of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The reigning MVP runner-up has completely taken over the league with his scoring and perimeter defense.

Stats (Week 10)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	35.8	6.5	6.0	1.8	2.5	63.0	40.9

SGA led the Thunder to a 4-0 record in Week 10, including back-to-back 40-point games against the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers. He has been lethal from the field, shooting a whopping 63.0%.

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#2 - Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets (17-13) | 2-2 in Week 10

Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets (Photo: IMAGN)

The Denver Nuggets have proven that they need Nikola Jokic more than anything in this world. They are a terrible team with Jokic not on the floor, but becomes contenders whenever he's on the court.

Stats (Week 10)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Nikola Jokic	30.3	10.0	7.5	1.3	0.0	62.5	47.6

Jokic's scoring has been up this season although he remains a triple-double machine. His best performance of Week 10 was a 37-point game in the win over the Detroit Pistons. "The Joker" added nine rebounds and eight assists, while shooting 64.7% from the field.

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#3 - Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks (16-14) | 0-0 in Week 10

Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks (Photo: IMAGN)

Giannis Antetokounmpo was displaced from first place to third in a week due to inactivity. Antetokounmpo has missed a total of four games since Dec. 21, including three in Week 10. He has an illness and was listed as questionable for their most recent game before being downgraded to out.

Stats (Week 10)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Giannis Antetokounmpo	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	00.0	00.0

"The Greek Freak" should be back in the conversation once he gets cleared to return. The Milwaukee Bucks went 2-2 in his absence, with Damian Lillard carrying the load until he comes back.

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#4 - Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers (27-4) | 2-0 in Week 10

Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo: IMAGN)

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the best record in the NBA at 27.4. Their biggest reason for being in that position is Donovan Mitchell, who has completely embraced his role as the franchise player.

Stats (Week 10)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Donovan Mitchell	27.5	4.0	6.5	2.0	0.0	53.1	50.0

Mitchell's scoring has been his main weapon this season, dropping 33 points in the Cavs' latest win over the Denver Nuggets. He will continue to hover over the NBA MVP power rankings as long as Cleveland keeps on racking up victories.

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#5 - Karl-Anthony Towns | New York Knicks (22-10) | 4-0 in Week 10

Karl-Anthony Towns | New York Knicks (Photo: IMAGN)

The New York Knicks had a slow start to the season, mainly due to the integration of Karl-Anthony Towns into the lineup. Towns is playing the best year of his career and has turned himself into one of the best bigs in the NBA.

Stats (Week 10)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Karl-Anthony Towns	24.5	10.3	3.0	0.5	0.5	65.0	35.3

KAT has been unleashed after two subpar years in Minnesota, wherein he shared the floor with Rudy Gobert. He's not only scoring in bunches, but also playing great defense and grabbing rebounds.