NBA MVP Award: A Mid-Season Check-In

As we hit the halfway mark of the NBA season, the MVP race has crystallized into one of the tightest battles in recent memory. What's wild is how it's basically become a three-man show at the top, with a couple of dark horses lurking just outside the spotlight.

Nikola Jokić (29.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 11.0 APG) 

Jokic had recently seized the top spot after a record-breaking Christmas performance, but his knee injury changes everything. He's already missed six games and can only afford to miss 11 more to stay eligible for MVP under the league's 65-game requirement. The Joker was having arguably the greatest statistical season in NBA history before the injury, leading the league in both rebounds and assists while shooting an absurd 61% from the field.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.9 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.5 RPG) j

Gilgeous-Alexander was an early-season candidate to repeat as league MVP, and with Jokić's injury, he's back as the frontrunner. The OKC Thunder started the season as an absolute juggernaut and are still the favorite at 33–7 with one of the best records in NBA history through this point. SGA is doing it efficiently, averaging career highs in all shooting percentage splits while playing just 33 minutes per game, his lowest outside of his rookie season. He often wraps up his night before the fourth quarter even matters. 

Luka Doncic (33.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.8 APG) 

Dončić rounds out the top three, leading the entire league in scoring while also dishing out assists at an elite level. The Lakers are thriving despite some recent struggles, and Dončić has been on an absolute tear, scoring at least 29 points in ten straight games. Sure, his 45/32 shooting splits aren't pretty, and he leads the league in turnovers, but when you're dropping 30+ nightly with a historic usage rate and orchestrating an offense this well, those become footnotes. If he put half as much effort into his defensive game as he does into his offense, Dončić would likely find himself at the top of the list. 

Cade Cunningham (27.5 PPG, 9.3 APG, 6.3 RPG) 

Last year, Cunningham earned a spot on the All-NBA Third Team and made his first All-Star Game appearance. This year, he is in contention for MVP honors.  How many people had the Detroit Pistons leading the Eastern Conference at 28–10 when, just two years ago, they managed only 14 wins? Nobody saw that coming. Cunningham's been the engine behind their success, proving he can elevate everyone around him while putting up near-triple-double numbers himself. He's second in the league in assists and has scored 30+ in seven of his last 11 games.

Jaylen Brown (29.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.0 APG)

With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Brown has stepped into the spotlight and silenced his critics. The 2024 Finals MVP is having a career year, leading Boston to a 24–14 record while averaging nearly 30 points per game. Brown has already racked up 19 thirty-point games this season, tied with only SGA for the most in the league, and recently tied a Celtics record with nine consecutive 30-point performances. Brown represents the ultimate dark horse candidate, a player finally proving he can be a true number one option.

Honorable Mention: Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, and Anthony Edwards. 

The 65-game minimum requirement adds another layer of intrigue, as players can miss a maximum of 17 games to remain eligible for MVP and All-NBA honors. What makes this race so captivating is how wide open it remains. SGA has the stats and the team success. Jokić has the historic numbers but questionable availability. Luka leads the league in scoring but plays for a Lakers team that's inconsistent. Cunningham and Brown are rewriting their own narratives when many didn’t expect much from their respective teams. With health, team performance, and voter fatigue all in play, the second half of the season is going to be a dogfight.