The 2025 NBA season was predicted to deliver a chaotic, electric, and historically dense MVP race, and for the first month, the anticipation has been validated in spectacular fashion. Five towering forces—Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the sensational rookie Victor Wembanyama—have stepped into the spotlight, each delivering performances that would, in nearly any other year, guarantee them a straight path to the trophy. The MVP table is currently packed with pure, unadulterated domination, setting the stage for a potential showdown that rivals the legendary 1988 battle between Jordan, Magic, Bird, and Hakeem.
Yet, amidst this whirlwind of superstar brilliance, one man has quietly, almost surgically, separated himself from the pack. Nikola Jokić, the two-time MVP who many voters claim to be tired of selecting, is not just participating in the conversation; he is bending the conversation to his will. His start to the season is not merely great; it is a statistical anomaly, a masterful display of offensive basketball that demands a severe, immediate re-evaluation of his place in the game’s history. While his opponents dazzle with gravity-defying drives and historic team records, Jokić is delivering the closest thing to a perfect offensive season the league has ever witnessed.
The Serbian Maestro’s Unstoppable November Surge
For a brief, deceptive moment in October, Jokić looked “almost human” by his standards, pacing himself around 20 points on 13 shots. The league, and perhaps the voting public, began to entertain the idea of a new champion. But the moment November rolled in, the quiet fury of the Serbian maestro snapped awake. The message was clear and chillingly effective: “All right, time to remind everyone who runs this league.”
Since that declaration, Jokić has been statistically unstoppable, transforming his game to a level that transcends basic metrics. He is now averaging 29.1 points, 13.2 rebounds (leading the NBA), and 11.1 assists (leading the NBA). For a big man to lead the league in two out of the three primary counting categories while also maintaining a commanding lead in efficiency is simply unreal. His efficiency numbers are what truly break the narrative. He is hitting 65.7% on two-point attempts and a blistering 40% from three on a healthy five attempts a game.
This combination of size, skill, and versatility has made him impossible to match up with, but the final, crowning metric is his 73.6% True Shooting clip. To put this in staggering perspective, this efficiency is approximately 16% above the current league average. A near 30-point triple-double on video-game efficiency shouldn’t mathematically be possible in a modern, highly competitive league. Yet, he does it like it’s routine, leveraging his vision, touch, and patience to make the entire court bend to his rhythm.
When he decided to take over in November, his scoring jumped by 13.6 points per night, and he did it by taking only six extra shots—a clear demonstration of exactly how unstoppable Jokić becomes the moment he decides, “I’m taking over now.” This is not empty stat-chasing; this is the pure, chilling dominance that translates directly into winning.
The Advanced Metrics Tell a Savage Story
The narrative surrounding “voter fatigue” is a powerful human element in the MVP race, one where fans and analysts push for a fresh name and a new storyline. But Jokić’s advanced metrics are a savage, undeniable counter-argument that renders all fatigue irrelevant. The Denver Nuggets, led by their mastermind center, are rolling at an 11-3 record, and Jokić is the sole engine behind every single win.
When the advanced numbers break down his impact, the argument solidifies beyond doubt. With Jokić on the floor, the Denver offense is an astonishing 19.4 points better, and the defense is also 2.7 points better. This combination results in a wild plus-22.2 Net Rating—one of the strongest impacts in the entire league. His presence doesn’t just improve the team; it flips the entire energy of the game the second he checks in.
A crucial, often-misunderstood facet of his game is his defense. While he might not block shots like Wembanyama or Giannis, those claiming he is a “weak defender simply aren’t watching the floor.” His defensive prowess comes from his elite timing, positioning, and court IQ, which allows him to anchor the defense and read plays before they even develop. On the offensive end, he is, quite literally, a one-man system—a point guard trapped in a center’s body—whose vision and flow control the court with surgical precision.
Honestly, the only player whose pure offensive brilliance can match this level of comprehensive control is Stephen Curry, and that comparison alone tells the whole story of Jokić’s unique genius. His efficiency is cleaner, his passing is crazier, and the numbers barely look human when you read them back. This might well go down as one of the greatest offensive seasons in NBA history.
The Contenders: A Legendary Class in Jokić’s Shadow
To fully appreciate the scope of Jokić’s dominance, one must acknowledge the unprecedented talent he is outperforming. The 2025 race is special because the competition is historic, forcing the league to stretch its definition of a contender.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) – The Electric Rival: SGA is perhaps the closest challenger, driven by team success and a smooth, surgical scoring game. The “smoothest scorer in the entire league” glides past defenders with an effortless grace. SGA is putting up 31.9 points, 6.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and playing with elite efficiency that includes a nasty mid-range and a now-respected outside shot. His 66% True Shooting is elite production, but what elevates him is the Oklahoma City Thunder’s unbelievable 15-1 record, a start that shows pure dominance. When Shai hits the bench, OKC’s offense drops dramatically, confirming he’s the primary engine, giving him an elite plus-14.7 net rating. If the season ended today, he would be a clear MVP in most years; this year, he sits firmly at number two.
Luka Dončić – The Scoring King: Luka Dončić is leading the entire NBA in scoring, dropping an absurd 34.6 points a night like it’s just pre-practice warming up. He couples this scoring with near triple-double averages: 9 assists and 8.5 rebounds. His interior game is hyper-efficient, hitting 61.7% on two-pointers. The visual spectacle of his game—making circus-style, off-balance, one-handed shots look like routine—is captivating. However, his over-reliance on the three-pointer, where he is connecting on only 31.7% while launching nearly 11 attempts, has been his recurring weakness. While his 61.7% True Shooting ties his career best while leading the league in scoring, his overall plus-7.4 net rating is solid but simply not in the same, devastating tier as Jokić and SGA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo – The Perennial Force: Giannis continues to drop “unreal numbers,” operating as a full powerhouse every night. His line—31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and a career-high 6.8 assists—showcases his continued evolution. His 66.2% True Shooting is almost 8% above league average. Most strikingly, his offensive on/off numbers are massive: the Bucks offense jumps a wild 21.8 points per 100 possessions when he is on the floor. Even with the Bucks’ early season record sitting at 7-7 with him, his plus-21 on/off impact is wild for any player and highlights his fundamental value to the team.
Victor Wembanyama – The Rookie Phenom: Victor Wembanyama is the debate starter, a rookie playing with a defensive dominance that is almost unheard of. Even though he’s expected to miss about a month, he’s still in the conversation, averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks a night. His most compelling metric is his defensive impact: the Spurs are 8.3 points worse defensively without him. This is the biggest defensive drop in the whole MVP conversation, providing “straight proof he’s already shifting entire games in real time,” and giving him a respectable plus-5.7 net rating. While injury and the 65-game requirement complicate his ultimate standing, his presence makes this race truly historical.
An All-Time Showdown Settled by the Numbers
The 2025 MVP battle is pushing toward a legendary status, with Jokić, Shai, Luka, Giannis, and Wembanyama giving us an all-time showdown. We are lucky to watch it unfold, as this special season might end up being one of the greatest MVP battles ever witnessed.
However, the debates, no matter how intense, must ultimately be decided by what is happening on the court. Nikola Jokić’s numbers—points, rebounds, assists, efficiency, and wins—are simply too wild to pretend they aren’t real. He is sitting near the top or flat-out leading the league in nearly every category. People keep wanting new faces to take over, but it’s clear: Jokić isn’t just part of the conversation—he is the conversation.
He might be the greatest offensive player we have ever seen, putting together a season that barely looks real on paper. His control is unreal, his scoring looks effortless, and every teammate instantly levels up the second he’s on the floor. If the season ended today, the statistical argument is ironclad: Nikola Jokić is the MVP with no hesitation, leading a historically great race by delivering an apex performance of offensive genius.
