NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) ladder race 2024-25 season: Top 5 candidates ft. Kevin Durant (Week 3)   

Kevin Durant's NBA MVP-caliber run was cut short by a massive injury blow. His calf issue couldn't have come at a worse time for the Phoenix Suns. The 2x NBA champion suffered a strain during last week's close 114-113 win for Phoenix and will be sidelined for two weeks. Leading up to the injury, the veteran forward starred in four of their seven-game winning streak. His performances in the last five games see him find a spot in our weekly updated NBA MVP rankings.

Donovan Mitchell finds a slot back in the top five as well with the Cleveland Cavaliers going on an 11-0 winning streak to cement themselves as a legitimate title contender. Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic lead the pack of the new-look MVP candidates this season as the NBA 2024-25 season saw an eventful Week 3. On that note, here's a look at our weekly MVP rankings.

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NBA MVP ladder race 2024-25 season: Top 5 candidates ft. Kevin Durant (Week 3)

#5 Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers: 11-0 | W-L record last week: 4-0

Donovan Mitchell - Cleveland Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell has been a picture of consistency this season. His good run of form bodes well for Cleveland and their 11-0 run explains it all as he averages 22.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in all of his games so far this season. The guard has played all 11 games so far and has been one of the key names to watch out for in the East.

Player Stats (Week 3)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Donovan Mitchell	19.3	3.5	3.0	1.0	0.3	40.0	41.4

Mitchell and the Cavaliers will eventually cool off in terms of their form, but consistency will be key as the team has been bonafide playoff contenders ever since he arrived at Buckeye State. Can the two maintain their winning streak and solid production?

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#4 Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns: 8-2 | W-L record last week: 3-1

Kevin Durant - Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant showcased his versatility and scoring prowess to spearhead the Suns. He was key in their rapid ascent as Phoenix notched up a seven-game winning streak and three of those wins came last week before they went down to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. His injury comes as a bummer to a team that was building their solid win streak in a stacked West.

Player stats (Week 3)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Kevin Durant	31.0	5.7	4.3	0.7	1.3	61.4	40.9

Before the injury, the 14x NBA All-Star averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 55.3% shooting. With two weeks of inactivity, it remains to be seen if those numbers take a hit upon his return.

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#3 Anthony Davis | LA Lakers: 6-4 | W-L record last week: 2-2

Anthony Davis - LA Lakers

One of the brightest sparks for the Lakers during their 2-2 stretch was Anthony Davis. His production, leadership, and playing at a level that shows LA could be in a better position than they are now. They are 6-4 and placed sixth after Sunday's win against the Raptors.

On his part, Anthony Davis has been a force ensuring that LA has maintained an unbeaten 5-0 record at home. The Purple and Gold will be sweating over his eye injury that saw him exit the game against the Raptors in the second half. Overall, he is averaging 31.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 57.7% shooting.

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#2 Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics: 9-2 | W-L record last week: 3-1

Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics

Like Mitchell and Durant, Jayson Tatum has been propping out big-time numbers to help the Celtics consolidate their second place in the East. The redemption arc for his 2024-25 NBA season continues as he leads the side in scoring, rebounds, and assists.

Player Stats (Week 3)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Jayson Tatum	31.0	7.8	5.8	1.3	0.5	43.7	40.8

Overall numbers see Tatum average 30.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists as Boston has their two-game win streak going before heading into Week 4.

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#1 Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets: 7-3 | W-L record last week: 4-0

Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets

Arguably one of the most underrated yet greatest players of the modern era, Nikola Jokic continues to prove himself as one of the league's standout players on both ends of the court. The Denver Nuggets have once again relied heavily on Jokic to steer them through as they chalked up a dominant five-game winning streak.

They won all four of their games last week with the 3x NBA MVP notching up bizarre numbers. 'The Joker' has been a singular force while the likes of Jamal Murray and the rest of the unit have struggled to stay consistent.

Player stats (Week 3)	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%
Nikola Jokic	29.5	15.8	14.5	2.0	1.0	56.6	50.0

Jokic has been averaging 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 11.7 assists on 56.3% shooting. His FG% is 23rd in the league this season, and the big continues to rack up the numbers to keep his side in title contention early on in the season.