In a move that left no room for debate, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić has been anointed as the NBA’s best player heading into the 2024-25 season, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps’ recent Best Player Poll. Out of 18 coaches, scouts, and executives surveyed, 15 cast their vote for Jokić, leaving just crumbs for Dallas Mavericks sensation Luka Dončić (two votes) and Minnesota Timberwolves’ rising star Anthony Edwards (one vote).
Why Luka Dončić Was Snubbed in the Best Player Poll
But should this verdict really come as a shock? Jokić has been an unstoppable force, bulldozing through defenses and stacking accolades like a man possessed. With three MVP titles in his pocket over the past four seasons, he’s dominated the league in ways that leave even his closest rivals playing catch-up.
Jokić’s performance stats speak for themselves—he’s the only player who managed to average over 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists per game during the 2023-24 season. Yet, somehow, the league still finds itself split over his supremacy, with Dončić and Edwards nipping at his heels.
Dončić, who came tantalizingly close to averaging a triple-double last season, isn’t one to be dismissed lightly. Leading the league with 33.9 points per game, along with nearly 10 assists and rebounds, he has made his case as a game-changing talent. His sharpshooting—38.2% from beyond the arc—further solidified his status as one of the NBA’s elite, especially after guiding the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards’ lone vote might have raised eyebrows, but it’s a nod to his extraordinary rise. In just four seasons, the 23-year-old has dragged the Timberwolves from irrelevance to the brink of a Western Conference championship. Their 56 wins last season were the franchise’s second-highest ever, proving that Edwards is a star on the rise.
Edwards’ swagger is undeniable; he’s not just participating in the spotlight, he’s commanding it. His bold declaration that he’s Team USA’s go-to guy at the Olympics—on a squad with heavyweights like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant—shows his ambition is as big as his talent.
As Jokić towers over the competition, Dončić and Edwards are hot on his trail, adding fuel to the fiery debate of who truly deserves the crown as the NBA’s top dog. Will the reigning MVP keep his throne, or is a new era of basketball royalty on the horizon?
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