As the NBA season approaches, there is intense discussion about who will take home the 2025-2026 MVP trophy. Lakers star Luka Doncic has emerged as a leading contender as the Lakers begin a nine-game winning streak. Jaylen Brown has also received praise for how he has led the Celtics' success prior to Jayson Tatum's return from an Achilles injury.
Carmelo Anthony says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 'clear cut' MVP 👀
"The players know who the real MVP is... To me, it's obvious. I think it's Shai... When you see the MVP, you know."
Idea? 🤔
(via @7PMinBrooklyn) pic.twitter.com/2MdEI7OCYK
- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 March 2026
But Hall of Famer and NBC Sports analyst Carmelo Anthony believes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the "clear-cut" favorite for MVP this season.
"The players know who the real MVP is... To me, it's obvious. I think it's Shai... This is the best team in the NBA, best player on the team. It's hard to argue. The guy is averaging 30 and 9. You know what I mean? When you see an MVP, you know."
gilgeous-alexander the engine is For the Thunder as they have faced some injury challenges this year. He averaged 31.6 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 6.6 assists per game on 55.3% shooting. He is also displaying exceptional defense, averaging 1.4 steals per game. Oklahoma City is still on top of the Western Conference and NBA landscape at 56–15. Alexander too
But winning the MVP trophy is all about moments, and for top MVP contenders Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they can create a moment by playing against each other in April. The Thunder and Lakers will play on April 2 and April 7, which could make for an interesting look at who will ultimately take home one of the NBA's greatest accolades.
