2025 NBA Finals MVP Rankings: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton and More
The Indiana Pacers won Game 3 on their home floor, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder behind strong outings from Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin to take a 2-1 series lead.
With the Pacers only holding a slight advantage, trying to pick a Finals MVP to this point isn't easy.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the runaway scoring leader, yet his team trails by a game in the series. Haliburton hit the winning shot in Game 1 but was otherwise pretty mediocre over the first two contests. A number of role players have stepped up for both teams.
Through three games, these are the five players most deserving of the Bill Russell Trophy.
No. 5: Alex Caruso, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
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An argument could be made for a number of players at the bottom of this list.
Chet Holmgren had a big 20-10 double-double in Game 3 while getting the Oklahoma City Thunder off to a hot start. Bennedict Mathurin's 15.3 points per game (thanks to 27 in Game 3) rank fifth overall in the series. Myles Turner, playing through an illness according to Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, leads the NBA Finals with 2.7 blocks per game and had some huge defensive possessions in the Game 3 win.
When considering two-way impacts and value over the course of the Finals, it's important to mention Alex Caruso.
The "GOAT" of the Thunder according to Holmgren, Caruso has his fingerprints all over the Finals, whether it be knocking down open threes, flicking passes to open cutters or guarding players nearly a foot taller than him on a regular basis.
The raw numbers are good (13.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 blocks, 1.7 steals, 50.0 percent from three) yet still don't justify how much of an impact the veteran guard has on this young Thunder team.
Even trailing 2-1, Caruso has undoubtedly been one of the most valuable players for either team in this series.
No. 4: Jalen Williams, F, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has shouldered the majority of the scoring load for the Oklahoma City Thunder, although Jalen Williams has made his mark as well.
Williams ranks second among all players in scoring during the 2025 NBA Finals, averaging 20.7 points per game, more than anyone on the Indiana Pacers. Bad shooting nights plagued Williams in Games 1 and 2, although the All-Star wing has remained aggressive in getting to the basket and putting pressure on Indiana's defense. Gilgeous-Alexander naturally leads all players in getting to the free-throw line (8.7 attempts per game), although Williams hasn't been far behind (8.0).
Williams' scoring has been important, but his ability to attack downhill and be a willing passer have also been strengths in this series. He ranks fourth in the Finals in assists per game (4.7), barely trailing Gilgeous-Alexander (5.0).
With so much defensive attention being paid to his MVP teammate, Williams has been a reliable second scoring option during the first three games while also defending multiple positions.
No. 3: Pascal Siakam, PF, Indiana Pacers
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Fresh off winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Pascal Siakam has continued his strong play in the NBA Finals.
Siakam leads all Indiana Pacers players in scoring (18.3 points per game) while his 7.7 rebounds per game rank first among all players in the Finals.
What's perhaps been more important in the series is Siakam's reliability. When Tyrese Haliburton has disappeared for stretches or looks too passive, it's been Siakam that Indiana has turned to when it needs a basket.
Siakam was also key to the start of Game 3, as he scored the first six points for the Pacers as the Oklahoma City Thunder got off to an early lead. The game could have easily begun to get away from Indiana if not for Siakam's steady presence and ability to right the ship.
Mix in 3.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, 0.7 steals and just 1.0 turnover per game and Siakam has easily been one of the most valuable players in the 2025 Finals.
No. 2: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Indiana Pacers
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Despite Tyrese Haliburton being the face of the franchise and hitting a dramatic jumper to seal a Game 1 victory, he's not a no-brainer choice for the most valuable player on the Indiana Pacers in this series.
Pascal Siakam is outscoring Haliburton through three games (18.3 points per game to 17.7). Bennedict Mathurin was the team's leading scorer in Game 3 (27 points) and Haliburton was far too passive in the first halves of Games 1 and 2.
A bounce-back performance in Game 3 (22 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and a block) pushes Haliburton narrowly ahead of Siakam here, especially since we saw some of the aggressiveness return from the Pacers point guard. Indiana is also plus-eight in the series during Haliburton's minutes, compared to a minus-17 when Siakam is on the floor.
With so much of the playmaking responsibility on his shoulders combined with his game-winning shot to begin the series, Haliburton gets the edge over Siakam and every other Pacer here.
No. 1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Yes, his team is currently down in the NBA Finals, and, yes, no player from a losing team has won Finals MVP since Jerry West in 1969 (although LeBron James easily deserved the award over Andre Iguodala in 2015).
With that being said, no player has been more valuable through three games than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The 2024-25 regular season MVP is averaging 32.0 points per game in the series to go along with 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks on 47.9/38.5/88.5 percent shooting splits. His scoring average is nearly equal to the Indiana Pacers' top two scorers combined (Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, 36.0).
While the Thunder are a deep team who've gotten good games out of Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Hartenstein and others, Gilgeous-Alexander simply does far more for his team than anyone else in this series.
The NBA's leading scorer in the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander's usage rate of 33.6 percent is by far the highest of any player in the Finals. Haliburton's ranks just eighth overall among all qualified players at 21.4 percent.
Series record being ignored for a moment, Gilgeous-Alexander should be considered the Finals MVP right now.
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