We know who won the 2023 NBA MVP, but now we’re recapping this season’s candidates to win The Michael Jordan Trophy. After coming so close to winning the MVP award in seasons past, Joel Embiid finally won his first trophy a year ago. But since the Philadelphia 76ers superstar didn’t meet the 65 games played threshold, he’s no longer on track to become the 15th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs.
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Now that the regular season is over, here are our frontrunners to vie for The Michael Jordan Trophy, otherwise known as the MVP award, in 2024.
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10. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (Last week: 10)
- Kevin Durant stats: 27.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5 APG, 52% FG, 41% 3PT, 1.2 BPG, 21.2 PER
Not only is Kevin Durant one of the most efficient scorers of our generation, he’s also extremely underrated on defense, averaging 2.1 ‘stocks’ per game. Leading a very good Phoenix Suns team in scoring, KD didn’t quite have the numbers to catch up to his fellow MVP candidates, and Devin Booker deserves consideration for this spot too.
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9. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (LW: 9)
- Jalen Brunson stats: 28.7 PPG, 6.7 APG, 3.6 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 47% FG, 40% 3PT, 23.4 PER
He may be in his sixth season, but Jalen Brunson became an All-Star for the first time in his career this year. The New York Knicks point guard has improved every year and now is one of the best scorers in the NBA. Brunson is shooting lights-out for a red-hot Knicks team that may be a legit championship contender for the first time in decades, he deserves to be mentioned in the MVP conversation.
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8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (LW: 8)
- Anthony Davis stats: 24.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.3 BPG, 55% FG, 27% 3PT, 25.8 PER
Durability has always been the biggest knock on ‘The Brow’s game, but he missed just six games this season. His numbers are outstanding, as usual, but it hasn’t led to more wins for the Lakers besides the In-Season Tournament. Davis’s overall body of work makes him a fringe MVP candidate, but he’s not a legit threat to win.
7. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (LW: 7)
- Anthony Edwards stats: 25.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 46% FG, 35% 3PT, 19.7 PER
The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the best teams in the Western Conference. How could one of the NBA’s best not have an MVP candidate? While Rudy Gobert’s resurgence and the return of Karl-Anthony Towns (before his injury) have been huge, Anthony Edwards deserves a larger part of the credit for the Wolves’ success. As the team leader, Edwards merits a spot on any list of NBA MVP candidates, but can he become more consistent and avoid turnovers? That’s the only thing holding Edwards back.
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6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (LW: 6)
- Domantas Sabonis stats: 19.4 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 8.2 APG, 59% FG, 37% 3PT, 23.2 PER
When the Sacramento Kings opted to part with Tyrese Haliburton, they wound up getting an All-NBA big in return. While he may not be on Jokic’s level as a passer, Domantas Sabonis is the NBA’s leading rebounder for the second year in a row. Yet, he also shot 37% from 3-point range. Few players are as skilled as Sacramento’s smooth-shooting All-Star, and it’s no surprise to see Sabonis become an outside MVP candidate.
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5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (LW: 5)
- Jayson Tatum stats: 26.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1 SPG, 47% FG, 37% 3PT, 22.3 PER
Jayson Tatum is elite on both ends of the floor, yet he still hasn’t been able to permanently stamp his name into the MVP conversation. However, if Tatum can continue averaging nearly 30 points per game while providing excellent defense, there’s no reason he can’t add some hardware to his trophy case soon. Tatum had his most efficient season yet, but new roster additions also led to a slight reduction in shots taken for the two-way superstar. He won’t win the MVP this year.
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4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (LW: 4)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo stats: 30.4 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 61% FG, 29.9 PER
We’ve seen enormous growth from Giannis Antetokounmpo since he entered the league as the 15th overall pick in 2013. Sure, he’ll never be Steph Curry from a distance, and his shooting is certainly an area that could be improved, yet he can still score 64 points on a single night. After hitting just 64.5% of his shots from the free throw line last season, if Antetokounmpo could return to the 77% rate we saw in 2017, his MVP candidacy would receive a huge boost. While he’s now dealing with a calf injury, the Greek Freak ranked second in PPG, sixth in RPG, and helped the Bucks earn the third seed in the East.
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3. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks (LW: 3)
- Luka Dončić stats: 33.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 9.8 APG, 48% FG, 38% 3PT, 28.1 PER
We all know what Luka Dončić is capable of on a nightly basis. Against Utah, he needed just one half to tally a triple-double. Then, against Atlanta, Doncic scored 73 points. Jokic showed you could win MVPs without being a top defender, which should open the door for Doncic, too. Yet, he has a tough road ahead with dominant do-it-all talents like Jokic and SGA in front of him. Leading the NBA in scoring, Doncic has made this race very close, yet he takes a hit here for also leading the league in turnovers without playing elite defense.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (LW: 2)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats: 30.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2 SPG, 53% FG, 29.3 PER
A season ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder were a fringe contender thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s development into an All-NBA talent. Now, he’s become one of basketball’s most efficient scoring threats, and the Thunder earned the top seed in the West. But it’s not just on offense. Gilgeous-Alexander’s a complete player who brings the intensity on defense too, leading the NBA in total steals. With SGA becoming a legit MVP candidate, the Thunder’s decision to trade Paul George continues to look better and better. But imagine if OKC can win a ring.
1. NBA MVP – Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (LW: 1)
- Nikola Jokić stats: 26.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 9 APG, 58% FG, 35% 3PT, 31 PER
No one puts up numbers like Nikola Jokic does. He may not be the league’s top scorer, but Jokic is an incredibly efficient player who somehow came close to averaging a triple-double last season and did so again in ’24. Of course, Jokic is a top 2024 NBA MVP candidate, ranking among league leaders in total rebounds. With Denver tying for the NBA’s second-best record, Jokic has earned another MVP award in our eyes.
