With the NBA regular season coming to an end, the race for the MVP award has become even more intense. MVP favorites include Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has also returned to the race.
But according to NBA media personality Zach Lowe, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still in the race for the MVP award. During a recent segment on The Ringer, Lowe explained why he thinks the reigning MVP is the favorite to win back-to-back.
"I think Shai, from start to finish, that's his MVP. He also has a 400-minute advantage on Wembanyama, which matters. ... That's a lot. When Shai is putting that kind of value on both ends of the floor, it's not like he's weak defensively. ... And the way he's shooting, in minutes, if they get the No. 1 seed, I think that's his MVP," Lowe. Said. "I think Wembley has a real case. I think he's got the second spot on my ballot over Jokic..."
Should Gilgeous-Alexander win the 2026 MVP award, he would be the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since Jokic in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Last year, he became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.
He has played just over 33 minutes per game in 60 games. He averaged 31.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 55.5 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from the 3-point line and 88.8 percent from the free-throw line.
The Thunder are currently 57-15 and, as Lowe mentioned, hold a three-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference standings.
