The 2024-25 NBA regular season has drawn to a close, and while sixteen teams shift their focus to playoff battles, one of the league’s most prestigious individual debates reaches its fever pitch: Who deserves the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the Most Valuable Player? The ballots are in (or being cast), but the official announcement is still weeks away. This year, the conversation centres around a familiar trio of dominant forces who have consistently redefined excellence: Denver’s Nikola Jokić, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, and Dallas’s Luka Dončić. Each has built a compelling case, making the final verdict anything but certain.
The Case for Nikola Jokić: The Serbian maestro continued his reign of statistical wizardry, orchestrating the Denver Nuggets’ offense with unparalleled vision and efficiency. Averaging near triple-double numbers while shooting at elite percentages, Jokić’s impact often transcends the box score. Advanced metrics likely paint him, once again, as one of the most impactful players ever, capable of elevating his team to among the West’s elite. Having already secured multiple MVP awards, Jokić’s case rests on sustained, historically great performance and his fundamental role in Denver’s success. The primary hurdle? Potential voter fatigue and the sheer brilliance of his competitors.
The Case for Joel Embiid: When healthy, Embiid remains arguably the most dominant two-way force in the league. The Philadelphia 76ers’ center likely finished near the top of the scoring charts again, blending brute force in the paint with a smooth outside touch. His defensive presence as a rim protector is equally vital to Philly’s identity.
If Embiid successfully navigated the season with minimal games missed and powered the Sixers to a strong finish despite roster challenges, his narrative of overwhelming power and carrying his team could sway voters. However, games played and the Sixers’ final seeding compared to other contenders will be heavily scrutinized.
The Case for Luka Dončić: The Slovenian sensation shouldered an immense offensive load for the Dallas Mavericks, putting up staggering numbers in points, rebounds, and assists. Dončić likely finished among the league leaders in scoring and assists, demonstrating an almost unmatched ability to create shots for himself and his teammates. His season was probably punctuated by numerous clutch performances, single-handedly winning games for Dallas and guiding them to a respectable playoff seed. The argument for Dončić centres on his incredible offensive engine and value relative to his team’s success without him. The counterarguments often involve Dallas’s final seeding (potentially outside the top 3) and historical voter preference for players on dominant regular-season teams.
While these three stand out, players like Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Boston’s Jayson Tatum undoubtedly had MVP-caliber campaigns and deserve recognition, likely appearing on many ballots even if they don’t clinch the top spot.
Ultimately, the MVP vote often reflects differing philosophies. Is it the best player on the best team? The player with the most eye-popping stats? Or the one most indispensable to their team’s specific level of success? Jokić offers historical efficiency and impact, Embiid presents overwhelming two-way dominance, and Dončić embodies offensive mastery and carrying ability. All three have produced seasons worthy of the highest honor. While we await the official word, the debate itself highlights the incredible individual talent gracing the NBA hardwood night after night.