James Harden’s Interesting Comment On Nikola Jokic, SGA Goes Viral
James Harden's Interesting Comment On Nikola Jokic, SGA Goes Viral
The NBA’s Most Valuable Player conversation this year has centered on a few standout names, especially Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As the regular season wraps up and the playoffs loom, coaches, teammates, and fans are dissecting every move these stars make.
Jokic, who’s kind of a basketball savant, keeps putting up wild triple-doubles for the Denver Nuggets. He’s always hovering near the top in points, rebounds, and assists out West.
James Harden, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, has chimed in on the MVP debate. Harden called Jokic the league’s best player for his steady production and leadership, but he also mentioned that a lot of NBA players are rooting for Gilgeous-Alexander to snag the MVP award this season.
“No question, Jokic is the best player,” Harden said, per Nichols. “But all the players, we want to see [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] win MVP because of the season he had and the winning. But of course, Jokic is the best player.”
That vibe among players isn’t just about SGA’s numbers—it’s about the way he’s lifted his team, too.
Table: Season Leaders – 2024-25 MVP Contenders
| Player | Team | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Defensive Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 26.4 | 12.2 | 9.1 | 108.5 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC Thunder | 31.2 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 106.2 |
Jokic’s value to the Nuggets? It’s huge. He’s been a constant for Denver, whether it’s the grind of the regular season or the pressure of the playoffs.
His Serbian roots and that funky, unselfish style make him one of the most adaptable centers we’ve seen. He’ll lead his team in assists one night and maybe rebounds the next—sometimes both.
The Nuggets’ postseason hopes, honestly, are glued to Jokic’s ability to control the boards and find open teammates.
On the other side, Gilgeous-Alexander has pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to a wild 68-win season. His mix of efficiency and defense is starting to remind some folks of MVP years past—think Harden’s 2017-18 run.
The MVP race is also shining a light on how much teammates and chemistry matter. Both Jokic and SGA have helped their squads rack up wins heading into the playoffs.
Past winners like Joel Embiid and Harden are still part of the MVP conversation. It’s funny how the definition of “most valuable” keeps shifting, depending on who you ask—stat heads, players, or just regular fans arguing online.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
