The race for the Most Valuable Player award this 2024-25 season is heating up, particularly between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A poll conducted by ESPN put the Oklahoma City Thunder guard in the lead. Nonetheless, it might be too early to proclaim him as the MVP winner.

February, the second of ESPN’s three NBA most valuable player straw polls showed Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a comfortable — if not ironclad —

Gilgeous-Alexander has had a tremendous season, with exquisite shooting efficiency for a guard and having a big impact on the Thunder's 63-12 record. If the polls and odds are right, he's going to win his first MVP. Even a 61-point triple double seemingly didn't give Jokic a reasonable chance to get back in the race.

Stephen A. Smith explains why he thinks Nikola Jokic's numbers put him in the conversation of the top 20 NBA players of all time.

Anthony Edwards was so blown away by Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic's performance in Tuesday's game that he admitted the big man might challenge him as the best basketball player he's seen in person.

Cleared to play Tuesday