Mar 10, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends a drive by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

James Harden Makes Bold Statement on MVP Race

Originally posted on Los Angeles Clippers on SI
By Liam Willerup | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 5:57 PM ET

While players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum have had stellar individual seasons this year, there's no denying that the NBA's MVP race is a two-horse race between Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The two players split the regular season series against one another, and both had historic 2024-25 campaigns.

For Jokic, it would be a fourth MVP win, something only five other players have done so far in their careers. As for Gilgeous-Alexander, it would be his first and further solidify his status as one of the NBA's premier players. In a debate that will eventually be settled in the release of the awards, Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden thinks the players have already decided who they want.

James Harden told Rachel Nichols that the NBA players want Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win MVP

“All the players, we want to see Shai win MVP because of the season he had and the winning… But of course Jokic is the best player.”

(via @SInow)pic.twitter.com/wHFfjU7lFL
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 18, 2025

“All the players, we want to see Shai win MVP because of the season he had and the winning… But of course, Jokic is the best player,” Harden told NBA reporter Rachel Nichols regarding the heavily debated race.

In Harden's case, it appears as though he's not only factoring in the team success advantage over Jokic, but also believes Gilgeous-Alexander deserves it since Jokic has won the award several times and Shai has done enough to earn the honor.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to 68 wins and won his first scoring title this season.

Nikola Jokic became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double.

Who will claim the NBA MVP award?@BrettSiegelNBA asked this question to 40 different NBA media… pic.twitter.com/0fnBSWPEP9
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 18, 2025

While expected to be on the list, the other finalists for MVP and other awards are set to be announced on April 20th on TNT, but the consensus remains a two-horse race between the two international stars.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Clippers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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