Nikola Jokić Named NBA’s Best Player over Dončić, Edwards by Coaches, Execs, Scouts

After winning his third MVP award in the last four seasons, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić is overwhelmingly regarded as the NBA’s best player going into the 2024-25 campaign.

In a poll of 18 coaches, scouts and executives by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jokić received 15 votes as the league’s top player right now.

The only other players who received a vote were Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić (two) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (one).

Jokić topping the poll shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. He’s been arguably the single most-dominant force on an NBA court over the past four seasons.

The Nuggets star hasn’t finished lower than second in MVP voting during this span. He was the only player in the league who averaged at least 25.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game in 2023-24.

Perhaps the more interesting result from the poll are the players who received votes after Jokić.

There probably isn’t going to be much of an argument against Dončić. He was within shouting distance of averaging a triple-double last season with an NBA-best 33.9 points per game, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Dallas’ postseason run to the NBA Finals only further solidified Dončić’s status as a true difference-making player. He keeps finding ways to get better, as evidenced by shooting a career-high 38.2 percent from three-point range on 10.6 attempts per game.

Edwards being the only other player to receive a first-place vote is a bit of a surprise. The 23-year-old has transformed the Timberwolves from a non-factor to Western Conference finalist in his four seasons.

Minnesota has increased its win total from 19 in the season prior to drafting Edwards to 56 last season. The 56 victories were the second-most in a single season in franchise history, trailing only the 2003-04 season (58-24).

The T-Wolves star received a vote ahead of players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Edwards does seem to crave the moment and spotlight in a way that makes it easy to envision him being the best player in the NBA as soon as next season. He famously declared himself to be the No. 1 option on Team USA at the Olympics this summer on a team with LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.