The 2023-24 MVP race is shaping up to come down to the wire with five major candidates going for the award: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Jayson Tatum. One of these five players will almost certainly win the MVP trophy this season, but there is minimal separation between them at this point.
With Joel Embiid out of the running after leading the race for most of the year, we have a full comparison of the five best candidates for the MVP trophy regarding major statistics. Here is the breakdown of which NBA star will win the MVP this season.
Points Per Game (PPG)
1. Luka Doncic – 34.5 (5 Points)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 31.2 (4 Points)
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 30.8 (3 Points)
4. Jayson Tatum – 27.1 (2 Points)
5. Nikola Jokic – 25.9 (1 Point)
At the top of the points-per-game pyramid is Luka Doncic, the maestro from Dallas, orchestrating a symphony of offense with his silky smooth moves and deadly shooting, averaging an eye-popping 34.5 points per outing which is his career-high that ranks over three more points than the next-highest player in the league.
Hot on his heels is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the electrifying guard from OKC, pouring in an impressive 31.2 points per contest. He’s like a lightning bolt on the court, striking fear into the hearts of defenses everywhere, and his scoring average is also a career-high for the 25-year-old.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the former two-time MVP who’s been dominating the paint and defying gravity with his jaw-dropping athleticism, is averaging a robust 30.8 points per game. Despite playing alongside Damian Lillard (24.2 PPG), Giannis is posting at least 30 points per game for the second time in his career.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum has been showcasing his scoring prowess for the Celtics, lighting up the scoreboard with his smooth jumper and crafty finishes, putting up a solid 27.1 points per outing. Tatum could probably average at least 30 PPG if he wants to, but playing alongside Jaylen Brown (22.5 PPG) and Kristaps Porzingis (20.3 PPG) means he doesn’t have to.
And bringing up the rear is Nikola Jokic, the versatile big man from Denver, who’s been dishing out dimes like a seasoned chef while still managing to contribute a respectable 25.9 points per game. A pass-first center, as crazy as that sounds, Jokic’s 25.9 PPG average shows just how dominant he can be across the board.
Rebounds Per Game (RPG)
1. Nikola Jokic – 12.2 (5 Points)
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 11.3 (4 Points)
3. Luka Doncic – 8.9 (3 Points)
4. Jayson Tatum – 8.4 (2 Points)
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 5.6 (1 Points)
At the top of the rebounding mountain stands Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ center who seems to have a gravitational pull around the rim, averaging an impressive 12.2 rebounds per game. This is the second-highest mark of his career, after his 13.8 RPG average in his MVP-winning 2021-22 campaign.
Right behind him is the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose combination of length, athleticism, and tenacity make him a force to be reckoned with on the glass, pulling down 11.3 rebounds per contest. Amazingly, Giannis has managed to post at least 10 rebounds per game seven times in his career.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic isn’t just about scoring—he’s also making his presence felt on the boards, grabbing 8.9 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks. Whether it’s snatching long rebounds or battling in the paint, he’s proving to be a valuable asset in securing possessions and starting fast breaks despite carrying a heavy offensive load.
Jayson Tatum isn’t far behind, showcasing his versatility for the Boston Celtics by averaging 8.4 rebounds per game. Despite being known for his scoring prowess, Tatum has been showing off his nose for the ball and willingness to mix it up in the paint since he is the Celtics’ leading rebounder this season.
Bringing up the rear in this rebounding race is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose focus on scoring doesn’t detract from his ability to contribute on the boards, averaging a respectable 5.6 rebounds per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder. While he may not dominate the glass like some of his counterparts, his willingness to crash the boards adds another dimension to his game.
Assists Per Game (APG)
1. Luka Doncic – 9.7 (5 Points)
2. Nikola Jokic – 9.2 (4 Points)
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 6.5 (3 Points)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 6.3 (2 Points)
5. Jayson Tatum – 4.8 (1 Point)
Leading the charge in assists per game is none other than Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks’ maestro, who’s been orchestrating the offense with surgical precision, averaging an impressive 9.7 assists per game. Not only posting a league-high PPG, but he is coming close to averaging a double-double in assists.
Hot on his heels is Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ big man who’s been showcasing his playmaking prowess with some jaw-dropping passes, averaging 9.2 assists per contest. This season marks the second-highest APG average from the Serbian, the first coming last year when he averaged 9.8 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been making waves for the Oklahoma City Thunder with his dynamic scoring, but he’s also been dishing out dimes at a solid rate, averaging 6.5 assists per game. With so much pressure to score, Gilgeous-Alexander is doing a great job dishing out the ball alongside Josh Giddey (4.4 APG).
Giannis Antetokounmpo may be best known for his scoring and rebounding, but he’s also been chipping in with his fair share of assists, averaging 6.3 per game for the Milwaukee Bucks. He is right behind Damian Lillard (6.8 APG) on his own team, rather impressively.
And bringing up the rear in this assist race is Jayson Tatum, whose scoring prowess often overshadows his ability to create for others, but he’s still managed to dish out 4.8 assists per game for the Boston Celtics which is behind Derrick White (4.9 APG).
Steals Per Game (SPG)
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2.1 (5 Points)
2. Luka Doncic – 1.5 (4 Points)
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 1.3 (3 Points)
4. Nikola Jokic – 1.2 (2 Points)
5. Jayson Tatum – 1.0 (1 Point)
At the top of the steals leaderboard is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s defensive dynamo, who’s averaging an impressive 2.1 steals per game. The youngster seems to be looking to win the steals title because no other player has averaged more steals than him this season.
Right behind him is Luka Doncic, whose defensive impact often flies under the radar amidst his offensive exploits, but he’s been showcasing his ability to swipe the ball and ignite fast breaks, averaging 1.5 steals per contest for the Dallas Mavericks.
Meanwhile, the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, isn’t just a force on offense and the boards—he’s also a defensive menace, averaging 1.3 steals per game for the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis’ defense is always highlighted and his average this season is tied for the third-highest in his career.
Nikola Jokic may not be known for his defensive prowess, but he’s been making his presence felt in the steal department, averaging 1.2 steals per game for the Denver Nuggets. In many ways, Jokic has been the point guard for the Nuggets because he has been playing passing lanes just like one.
And bringing up the rear in this steals showdown is Jayson Tatum, whose defensive contributions often go unnoticed amidst his offensive responsibilities, but he’s still managed to chip in with 1.0 steals per game for the Boston Celtics. Tatum has managed to average more steals in every season of his career, his highest coming in the 2019-20 campaign (1.4 SPG).
Blocks Per Game (BPG)
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 1.0 (5 Points)
2. Nikola Jokic – 0.9 (4 Points)
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 0.9 (3 Points)
4. Luka Doncic – 0.6 (2 Points)
5. Jayson Tatum – 0.6 (1 Point)
At the top of the blocks leaderboard, we have Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaging an impressive 1.0 blocks per game. Out of all the MVP candidates this season, Giannis is by far the most capable and dominant defender because he can swat shots with regularity and can certainly average more blocks if he wants to.
Close behind him are Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who may not be traditional shot-blockers but have been making their presence felt in protecting the rim, each averaging 0.9 blocks per game for the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively. Despite not being known as defenders per se, they can block shots.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum may not be known for their shot-blocking abilities, but they’ve still managed to contribute with 0.6 blocks per game for the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics, respectively. It won’t be surprising to see Giannis rank first in blocks among the rest of the candidates at the end of the year.
Shooting Percentage (eFG%)
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 63.3% (5 Points)
2. Nikola Jokic – 61.0% (4 Points)
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 58.0% (3 Points)
4. Luka Doncic – 57.8% (2 Points)
5. Jayson Tatum – 55.8% (1 Point)
Giannis consistently finds his mark with precision and finesse, making the most of his scoring opportunities with a deadly combination of drives, dunks, and mid-range jumpers. He is averaging 61.9% from the field which counters his 30.1% three-point mark. In terms of raw scoring efficiency, Giannis is as dominant as they come.
Right behind him is Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ versatile center, who’s been showcasing his deft touch and scoring prowess with an eFG% of 61.0%. Jokic is unstoppable down low, posting 58.1% from the field despite shooting only 34.1% from three. The Serbian just knows how to score efficiently.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been making waves for the Oklahoma City Thunder with his smooth shooting stroke and ability to create space for his shots, boasting an eFG% of 58.0% based on 54.8% field-goal percentage and 38.2% three-point mark.
Luka Doncic isn’t far behind, using his combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ to carve up defenses and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates, boasting an eFG% of 57.8% for the Dallas Mavericks. The Slovenian has actually been efficient this season, shooting 49.6% from the field and 38.0% from three which is a major plus in his MVP consideration.
Bringing up the rear in this shooting efficiency showcase is Jayson Tatum, whose scoring prowess often overshadows his ability to score efficiently. Tatum is shooting 47.8% from the solid field, but he is looking to improve upon his 36.9% 3-PT FG which is solid but not exactly spectacular.
Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
1. Nikola Jokic – 31.4 (5 Points)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 30.7 (4 Points)
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 30.2 (3 Points)
4. Luka Doncic – 28.9 (2 Points)
5. Jayson Tatum – 22.6 (1 Point)
At the summit of player efficiency sits Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ versatile big man, boasting an astronomical player efficiency rating (PER) of 31.4. Jokic has to be considered the most dominant player in the league right now because he does everything well and does it efficiently with a league-leading PER.
Right on his heels is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rising star, boasting a formidable PER of 30.7 which ranks second in the NBA. Due to his efficient shooting percentages and elite scoring average, Gilgeous-Alexander has been a PER machine this season.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t far behind, showcasing his MVP-caliber talent with a PER of 30.2 which ranks third in the NBA. Due to a mix of high-quality shooting and strong numbers across the board, there isn’t a better two-way player in the world right now than The Greek Freak.
Luka Doncic continues to solidify his status as one of the NBA’s brightest stars, boasting a PER of 28.9 for the Dallas Mavericks. Luka’s PER ranks fourth in the NBA, and he is significantly benefitting from impressive shooting numbers behind his league-leading scoring average,
Finally, Jayson Tatum ranks 12th in the NBA in PER but he is getting a ton of help from his All-Star-quality teammates so he does not have to put up world-class efficiency numbers. He has been excellent this season in terms of impact, but he is quite far off the four players in the advanced PER statistic.
Win/Loss Record (W/L Record)
1. Jayson Tatum – 48-12 (.800) (5 Points)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 42-19 (.689) (3 Points)
3. Nikola Jokic – 42-19 (.689) (3 Points)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 41-21 (.661) (2 Points)
5. Luka Doncic – 34-27 (.557) (1 Point)
Jayson Tatum is winning a ton of games with the Boston Celtics this season, and credit should go to him and the role players although Brad Stevens and management need to get their flowers. Losing Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III was not easy, but replacing them with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis has proven to be the main reason the Celtics are on a monster 11-game winning streak with a third 50+ point victory this season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a title contender this season but that is mainly because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is their driving force. The 25-year-old has developed into a leader and franchise player, and the Thunder are going for the top seed in the West for a chance to make a deep playoff run.
Jokic will always lead a winning side because he is just that good. Jokic is the leading scorer and playmaker behind a Nuggets team that ranks 16th in PPG and 7th in offensive rating, so he essentially means everything to them. The Nuggets are looking to repeat as NBA champions and winning more games could be the key.
The Bucks have been excellent all season although the hiring of Doc Rivers mid-season will take some time to adjust. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the star of the show, and a 65.6% winning percentage is nothing to sniff at, meaning Milwaukee will challenge the Boston Celtics to make the NBA Finals at the end of the year.
Finally, the Mavericks have struggled at times this season, going 6-4 over their last 10 games and not exactly playing like a title contender when compared to the Celtics, Thunder, Nuggets, and Bucks. If there is one thing that stops Luka from winning the MVP, it has to be a team record.
MVP Player Rankings
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 27 Points (2 Categories Won)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 26 Points (1 Category Won)
2. Nikola Jokic – 24 Points (2 Categories Won)
4. Luka Doncic – 24 Points (2 Categories Won)
5. Jayson Tatum – 14 Points (1 Category Won)
In the race for the MVP title, Giannis Antetokounmpo emerges as a frontrunner, securing 27 points and dominating in two categories. His exceptional performances and impact on his team’s success make him a formidable candidate for the award. Following closely behind is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is just one point behind Giannis, winning one category.
Despite leading in fewer statistical areas, Shai’s exceptional play and contributions to his team’s victories position him as a strong contender. Sharing the third spot are Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, both amassing 24 points and triumphing in two categories each. Their versatility and ability to influence various facets of the game make them significant players in the MVP discussion. Finally, Jayson Tatum rounds out the rankings with 14 points, clinching one category.
Though he may have fewer points than his counterparts, Tatum’s impact on his team’s performance cannot be understated, cementing his status as a key player in the league as the best player on the best team. The statistics favor Giannis Antetokounmpo in the MVP race, but the all-around impact of Nikola Jokic could mean he sees out the season with his third MVP award, placing him in elite status with only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James winning more.
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