- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tops the NBA’s 2025 Player of the Year list after a standout, banner year.
- SGA won a championship, earned Finals MVP, led the league in scoring and helped OKC to a historic start.
- Nikola Jokić, Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson round out the top contenders.
- The list blends the 2024-25 playoff run with the strong start to the 2025-26 season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A banner year
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anchored the NBA’s most compelling individual season across the 2024-25 and early 2025-26 calendar. He was an All-Star starter, made first-team All-NBA, led the league in scoring and emerged as a top perimeter defender. The season’s high point: he captured a championship and earned NBA Finals MVP honors.
SGA’s influence extended into the new season. Oklahoma City opened 24-1, a historic run that reinforced Gilgeous-Alexander’s case as the year’s most impactful player. His performance in clutch moments and two postseason Game 7 victories helped seal the top spot on this year-end Player of the Year list.
Why he edged out Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokić remained a statistical marvel and elite two-way force through the year, with his triple-double mastery and MVP-level production. The difference: Jokić’s individual brilliance didn’t include a championship in this stretch. The combination of team success and peak individual moments gave Shai the edge for the 2025 Player of the Year recognition.
Top 10 players of the year (2025)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder — Scoring leader, Finals MVP, All-NBA, historic early-season start.
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets — Triple-double machine and perennial MVP candidate.
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves — Carried Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals and continued his scoring surge.
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks — Led the Knicks to the East Finals and delivered strong early-season form.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks — High-level production but hampered by injuries and an early playoff exit.
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers — Key to the Cavs’ top-seed finish but mixed playoff results.
- Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons — Breakout campaign with all-around averages and major growth.
- Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers — Impactful despite missed games and a blockbuster trade.
- Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers — Playoff heroics and elite playmaking prior to injury.
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics — Strong scoring and rebounding, sidelined late by injury.
What this ranking reflects
This Player of the Year list measures two calendar halves — the 2024-25 postseason and the start of 2025-26. It rewards players who delivered both playoff success and immediate follow-up regular-season excellence. For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the combination of championship success, Finals MVP hardware and sustained regular-season dominance made him the clear choice for 2025.
For fans and analysts, the list sets the tone for debates into the rest of the 2025-26 season: durability, playoff performance and early-season momentum will remain vital in assessing MVP and GOAT conversations.
(Reporting adapted from a year-end review by NBA.com writer Shaun Powell.)
Image Referance: https://www.nba.com/news/nba-player-of-year-for-2025
