Two Western Conference superstars are separating themselves from the pack in the NBA’s MVP race. In the midst of an impressive 15-game regular-season winning streak, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now has the best odds to win his first Michael Jordan Trophy.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić beat Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP last season when the pair were among a trio of finalists. During another fantastic season, Jokić remains a strong contender to win back-to-back MVPs for a second time. With another win, Jokic would become the sixth player in league history with four MVP awards (joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James).

Entering last week, the duo held identical +120 odds at BetMGM to win MVP. Numbers shifted heavily in Gilgeous-Alexander’s favor after a signature stretch over the weekend that included notable Thunder wins over the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

NBA MVP odds

Although MVP is looking increasingly like a two-man race, two Eastern Conference stars are lurking in the distance.

Shai creates separation with standout weekend

A pair of clutch performances in marquee weekend matchups helped Gilgeous-Alexander (-165) make a significant leap up the oddsboard.

Facing the red-hot Knicks, Gilgeous-Alexander ended New York’s nine-game winning streak behind 33 points, seven assists and four rebounds. It was only the fourth game in NBA history between opposing teams on winning streaks of nine games or more.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored or assisted on 16 of Oklahoma City’s 25 points during a decisive 25-10 fourth-quarter run. That was only the beginning of a memorable weekend for Gilgeous-Alexander.

Against the defending champion Celtics, the guard tallied 33 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. The win over Boston included an impressive sequence that started with Gilgeous-Alexander pinning Jayson Tatum’s shot on the glass and ended with the guard throwing a lob on the other end to a cutting Isaiah Hartenstein.

WHAT A SEQUENCE BY THE THUNDER 😱 pic.twitter.com/AyfxI37Lea

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 5, 2025

For the season, Gilgeous-Alexander is up to 31.3 points (third in the NBA), 6.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 2 steals and a career-high 1.1 blocks per game. Remarkably consistent on a nightly basis, the Canadian only has one game all season where he scored fewer than 21 points. The guard’s shooting splits elevated to eye-catching levels (55 percent on field goals, 41 percent on 3-pointers, 95 percent on free throws) over the last 10 games.

Oklahoma City’s incredible team defense only boosts the case for Gilgeous-Alexander. Holding Boston to only 27 second-half points and its worst 3-point shooting game of the season (9-for-46) on Sunday, the Thunder lead the NBA in steals per game (11.8) and defensive rating (102.7). Even with injuries to center Chet Holmgren and guard Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City’s defense remains menacing in-part because of Gilgeous-Alexander’s defensive versatility.

The individual offensive numbers for Gilgeous-Alexander aren’t as substantial as for Jokić, but the Thunder are on pace to win 70 games and are playing elite defense despite missing two of their best defenders. If offensive consistency continues and the Thunder win the West’s No. 1 seed, Gilgeous-Alexander has a strong case for his first MVP.

Jokić stays in the race with ridiculous numbers

Given his MVP pedigree and outrageous statistics, Jokić (+130) is right in the MVP mix.

Not to be outdone by Gilgeous-Alexander over the weekend, the Joker had two memorable head-to-head matchups against the San Antonio Spurs and star center Victor Wembanyama. Just missing out on multiple 40-point triple-doubles, Jokić averaged 43.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists across two games against the NBA’s best defender.

Jokić is top three in the league in points (31.5 points, second), rebounds (13, third) and assists (9.7, second) per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range. Forced into more of a scoring role this season with Denver missing Aaron Gordon for extended stretches, Jokić is putting up more points than his previous career-high (27.1) and five points more than last season’s MVP campaign (26.4). Despite the highest usage of his career (32.9), Jokić also has the lowest turnover percentage (8.7) of his career.

Oklahoma City’s team success and the improved defense of Gilgeous-Alexander could be separating factors in a close race. The Nuggets are already 9.5 games back of the Thunder in the Western Conference with Denver boasting a subpar 19th-ranked team defensive rating (113.5).

Can the Greek Freak sneak back into the race?

Giannis Antetokounmpo looked like a serious third contender in the race a week ago. Then outstanding weekends from Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić saw the Greek Freak’s odds go from +650 to +2000.

The NBA’s scoring leader at 31.6 points per game, Antetokounmpo already has the NBA Cup on his resume this season. Although his perimeter shooting has dipped (20 percent on 3-pointers, 60.5 percent on free throws), Antetokounmpo is shooting 60.2 percent from the field while averaging 11.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.

Managing the NBA’s 65-game minimum threshold is a concern for the Greek Freak to stay in the race. Missing multiple games already this season due to right patella tendinopathy, Antetokounmpo has played more than 65 games only twice in the previous five seasons. Antetokounmpo required stitches in his right hand on Monday after recording a triple-double in a Milwaukee win.

Tatum falling behind after strong start

Boston Celtics star wing Jayson Tatum (+3500) is dipping in the odds as his numbers start to trail. Tatum is averaging 28.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

The return of a healthy Kristaps Porziņģis to the Celtics rotation has chipped into Tatum’s scoring numbers over the last month. With +1800 odds to start last week, Tatum is now at +3500 after the Celtics lost to Oklahoma City over the weekend.

Playing for a deep Celtics squad that boasts six double-figure scorers, Tatum’s numbers are starting to slip compared to the three MVP leaders.

(Photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)