標籤: GilgeousAlexanders

We’re officially less than a month away from the end of the 2025-26 regular season, and the door on the MVP race appears to be closing. While Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama and others are trying to improve their resumes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on a collision course for his second consecutive MVP award.

Should the Oklahoma City Thunder star accomplish this feat and be named NBA MVP once again, he will join the list of greats to claim this award in back-to-back seasons (not including the ABA): Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.

Will SGA become the 14th player to win consecutive MVP awards? After breaking Wilt’s record on Thursday, he’s on track to do so.

After recording 35 points in a 104–102 win over the Boston Celtics, Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 127th consecutive game with 20-plus points, surpassing Chamberlain’s record of 126 games for most consecutive 20-plus point games in NBA history.

This is a historic accomplishment for the SGA, and it’s one of those records that you look at and wonder if anyone will ever surpass this mark again.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of SGA’s historic success, “Number one, he’s skilled at his craft. There’s no one more precise than him at his craft.” “Number two, the entire life of the streak hasn’t stopped us from having a lot of success on the team and hasn’t stopped his teammates from being successful. An individual streak about scoring hasn’t come at the expense of the team or his teammates.

“He treats everyone in the building with respect from top to bottom. So, he’s obviously a great basketball player, but he’s such a guy that you couldn’t be happier when he accomplishes something like this. So, huge congratulations to him.”

The Thunder have looked like the team to beat over the final few weeks of the regular season, and Gilgeous-Alexander continues to take his game to new heights. Whenever you’re mentioned alongside Wilt, you’re doing something right, and in Gilgeous-Alexander’s case, it could be enough for him to claim the MVP award once again.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 31.6 points, 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 54.9 FG%, 38.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to perform well since missing his 12th game of the season on March 3. Over his last three games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 28.6 points, 9.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.

The Thunder currently find themselves on an eight-game win streak, and despite Jalen Williams still being out and others missing games due to various injuries, Gilgeous-Alexander is finding ways to get everyone involved.

He has recorded at least eight assists in four of his last five games, including a season-high 15 assists in a 129–126 win over the Denver Nuggets, a game in which Shai hit two big shots late in the game, including the game-winning three with 3.3 seconds remaining.

Shai is playing like the best player in the league right now, and barring some major incidents, he will win the 2025-26 MVP award.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 52 games, 28.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 57.3 FG%, 38.8 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

Although the Denver Nuggets have been inconsistent recently, Nikola Jokic has been on the heater. Last week, he averaged 25.8 points, 15.5 rebounds, 13.0 assists and 3.3 steals per game, while shooting 55.2 percent from the floor.

Not to mention, Jokic recorded four consecutive triple-doubles, marking the third time this season that he has had four consecutive games with a triple-double. This season, Jokic has 27 triple-doubles in 52 games, which is 15 more such games than Jalen Johnson (12).

While it has been an MVP-like season for Jokic, his 16 missed games due to a knee injury and the Nuggets’ inconsistent play in the stretch run of the season have surrendered the MVP race to Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Jokic can pass Thunder guards at this speed without suffering any injury.

3. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 52 games, 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 50.7 FG%, 36.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 3 more games to remain eligible.

Of all the MVP candidates this year, Victor Vembanyama may have an outside chance of reaching SGA and possibly impacting some first-place votes. That’s because the San Antonio Spurs are 3.5 games behind the Thunder for the top spot in the Western Conference, and they hold the season tiebreaker over Gilgeous-Alexander’s team.

As far as Wemby’s numbers are concerned, he has increased his efficiency and accepted the challenge of competing for the MVP award.

“Right now, I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well,” Wembanyama told Amazon Prime Crew after Saturday’s 115-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets. “So, I’m just trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine and perform for my team.”

You have to admire the passion and struggle of the 22-year-old superstar. This season isn’t over yet, and with the Spurs having an outside chance to claim the 1-seed over Oklahoma City, Wembey’s MVP dreams are still alive.

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 60 games, 24.9 points, 10.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.1 FG%, 34.7 3P%

Can Cade Cunningham surpass Nikola Jokic in assists this year and win his first assist title? Currently, Cunningham leads the league in total assists (603) by a wide margin, but his 10.1 assists per game average still trails Jokic’s 10.5 assists per game.

However, Cunningham has shown some strides recently, averaging 11.9 assists over his last eight contests. Over this span, the Detroit Pistons guard has tallied six double-doubles, bringing his total double-doubles on the season to 37, which is the fourth most double-doubles in the league.

The Pistons remain the top team in the Eastern Conference standings, and Cunningham is the driving force behind their success. Don’t be surprised if he gets some first- and second-place votes for MVP this year. Still, he won’t get enough money to overtake Gilgeous-Alexander.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #6

2025-26 season stats: 55 games, 32.8 points, 8.5 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

Luka Doncic is back in the top five of the NBA MVP rankings after briefly falling behind Jaylen Brown. The main reason they’ve taken over the No. 5 spot and could potentially jump higher between now and the end of the year is the Los Angeles Lakers’ surge in the standings at season’s end.

Los Angeles has won five straight games and eight of the last nine games overall to momentarily take over the sole possession of the third seed in the Western Conference. As far as Doncic’s MVP campaign goes, he has had his fingerprints on the Lakers’ success, averaging 33.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game during a nine-game span for the Lakers.

Doncic has had incredible performances recently, scoring at least 30 points in five straight games, and that includes two noteworthy performances. The first was a 51-point game with nine triples made against the Bulls on Thursday, and he followed that with a 30-11-13 game with game-winning shots in overtime against Jokic and the Nuggets.

There’s no denying Luka’s dominance at the moment, which is why he’s back in the top five of the NBA MVP rankings. If his and the Lakers’ success continues into the final weeks of the regular season, there’s a chance they can continue to make a run in this race.

just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 5 last week]

7. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 7 last week]

8. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 10 last week]

9. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers [Unranked last week]

10. Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks [Unranked last week]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Snapping a 63-year-old streak with his 127 consecutive 20+ point performances in a 104-102 win against the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander almost saw his streak end there. Midway through the fourth quarter, despite maintaining a 12-point lead, it was still behind by 10 points. Then, Gilgeous-Alexander went into closeout mode, helping them save their streak and lead a 116–103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After scoring five points on back-to-back possessions, including a contested 3-pointer from Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards, Gilgeous-Alexander drew a shooting foul on Edwards to complete a 3-point game to reach 20 points. During the Timberwolves’ ensuing timeout, Gilgeous-Alexander looked up and realized What was the standing ovation at the Paycom Center for?

Gilgeous-Alexander said, “I didn’t realize until they were yelling after the free throws. I was a little confused.” “Then I realized, ‘Oh, this, the 20-point streak.’ Hello friends tonight. He did a great job of taking what the game gave him and being prepared. I had 10 assists tonight, and they were ready to hit shots. So, hats off to those guys.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on when he realized he extended his 20+ point streak to 128: “I didn’t realize until they were yelling after the free throws. I was a little confused…

Then I realized, ‘Oh, this, the 20-point streak.” pic.twitter.com/pigozVokah

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 15 March 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20 points made him one of three Thunder players to finish with 20+ points in Sunday’s win, joining All-Star Chet Holmgren (21 points) and Isaiah Joe (20 points), who shot 8 of 14 from the floor, including four threes. Jared McCain added 15 points on 5 of 9 3-point attempts.

SGA extends 20+ point streak to 128 in Thunder win

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of consecutive 20+ point games to the most in NBA history by scoring 10 points in the final six minutes of Sunday’s 13-point win (116-103) against the Timberwolves. Gilgeous-Alexander extended his 20+ point streak from the free-throw line on a 3-point play, drawing a shooting foul on Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards.

After the win, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on the final frame, reminding reporters that the Thunder would go beyond doing everything in their power to ensure a win to continue their historic 20+ point game streak.

“I didn’t care about anything other than winning the game, like always,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Tonight’s game was very sloppy, low-scoring, they’re obviously a good defense, we’re a good defense; so, it’s no surprise. To me, these types of things never matter. It’s always about getting out of here with a W.

“If I have a night like tonight, and we win for the rest of the season like we won tonight, I’ll be the happiest person on Earth. So, all that matters is winning.”

The Thunder will look to extend their winning streak when they begin their five-game road trip with Tuesday’s matchup against the Magic.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault did his best to put All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s new record-breaking streak of scoring 20+ points in 127 consecutive games into words best suited for the reigning MVP. After breaking the 63-year-old record, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on how he has emerged as one of the NBA’s elite scorers before Daigneault delivered his flowers to the SGA.

Talking about who Gilgeous-Alexander is as a player, a leader and a person, Daigneault it took time to explain What makes his All-Star guard so special during his post-game media availability?

“Number one, he’s skilled at his craft. Nobody is more precise at his craft than him. Number two, the streak his entire life hasn’t stopped us from having a ton of team success and hasn’t stopped his teammates from being successful as well,” Daigneault said. “The individual scoring streak hasn’t come at the expense of the team or his teammates. And again, great father, great husband, great teammate.

“He treats everyone in the building with respect from top to bottom. So, he’s obviously a great basketball player, but he’s such a guy that you couldn’t be happier when he accomplishes something like this. So, huge congratulations to him.”

Mark Daigneault’s honest opinion on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak of 127 consecutive 20+ point games, the most in NBA history, and his lead:

“There is no one more precise at his craft than him. The entire life of the streak did not prevent us from having a lot of team success… pic.twitter.com/WDNrrO2AZ5

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 13 March 2026

His 35 points on 13 of 18 attempts, nine assists, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals led the Thunder to the win. gilgeous-alexander Exceeded the 20-point threshold He received a standing ovation during the third quarter of a 104–102 win against the Boston Celtics at Paycom Center.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA history with his 127th consecutive 20+ point game.

Historic Night at Paycom Center pic.twitter.com/lu7DrRPBWP

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 13 March 2026

In a matchup against the Celtics’ MVP candidate Jaylen Brown, who finished with 34 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block, Gilgeous-Alexander exchanged key buckets to tie the game. Then, Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren was fouled on a rebound, sending him to the line for two with 0.8 seconds remaining in the game.

Holmgren sealed the win for the Thunder by making two free throws, putting Oklahoma City ahead by two. He finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

SGA issues subtle warning after making NBA history

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes his improvement every season over the past few years has made him the leading scorer he is today. Adding a string of most consecutive 20+ point performances to his trophy haul, Gilgeous-Alexander explained that this was no coincidence, but a testament to his dedication.

“Over the years, I’ve just built my game, watched the defense, and just attacked the defense with the tools I have,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It feels like every year I’m getting better and better at doing this, and I think that’s why. I just watch coverages, learn from them, try to get better, and implement them whenever possible.”

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault watched Thursday’s historic night, followed by a 129-126 win on Monday in another duel against Nikola Jokic and an MVP candidate in the rival Nuggets, where Gilgeous-Alexander tied Wilt Chamberlain’s streak for consecutive 20+ point performances, and became only the second player to finish with at least 35 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers. Went.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, two players who have jockeyed for the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings all season, have played two games against each other so far this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder and SGA claimed the first matchup, setting up a highly anticipated game between these two foes on Friday.

Once again, the Thunder were victorious over the Denver Nuggets, winning 127–121 in overtime. Although Jokic had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in the game for his league-leading 22nd triple-double of the season, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who grabbed the headlines with 36 points in his first game after suffering an abdominal strain before the All-Star break.

It was a big game for Gilgeous-Alexander to get back into action, but this head-to-head matchup against the three-time MVP certainly mattered to the defending league MVP. Besides being a chance for the Thunder to extend their lead in the Western Conference standings, it was a chance for Gilgeous-Alexander to prove that he should win back-to-back MVP awards.

Well, after another strong performance against Jokic and the Nuggets, the Oklahoma City star is back in the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings with six weeks remaining in the regular season.

There are two more showdowns left against these two MVP candidates, and these battles will undoubtedly carry equal importance in helping determine this year’s MVP. However, there is still an outside chance for others to steal the first-place votes.

Cade Cunningham is having a great season and has extended the Detroit Pistons’ lead to the 1st-seed in the East. Jaylen Brown has led the Boston Celtics to the second-best record in the East without Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic leads the league in scoring for the Los Angeles Lakers.

And then there’s Victor Wembanyama, who continues to lead the San Antonio Spurs, who are just three games behind Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in the West standings, and who has dominated Oklahoma City this season.

Can any of these other MVP candidates surpass Jokic or Gilgeous-Alexander over the next several weeks? This is where the MVP rankings currently stand, now that SGA is back on top.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 51 games, 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 55.1 FG%, 38.1 3P%

*Only a maximum of 6 more games can be left to remain eligible.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed nine consecutive games before returning against Jokic and the Nuggets on Friday night, meaning he is only allowed to miss six more games for the remainder of the season to remain eligible for season-ending honors and awards such as MVP.

Gilgeous-Alexander did not look stiff at any point in this game, as he made 12 of 29 shots from the floor and scored 36 points, while also recording nine assists. He followed that performance up with another 30-point performance on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, leading Oklahoma City to two consecutive wins.

The Thunder are now three games ahead of the Spurs for the 1-seed in the Western Conference, and Gilgeous-Alexander has moved closer to history with his two big-scoring performances since returning from injury.

Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 123 straight games, meaning he is three games away from tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 consecutive games with 20-plus points.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 45 games, 28.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 57.0 FG%, 40.1 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

As good as Jokic’s numbers may look, he hasn’t looked like himself since returning from his hyperextended left knee.

In the 13 games that Jokic has played since returning from a knee injury, the Nuggets star has averaged 26.8 points, 13.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor. Obviously, these are MVP-like stats, but what stands out is his 4.1 turnovers per game during this span.

Jokic’s efficiency has declined, his shooting splits have decreased, and turnovers are a concern. Needless to mention, Denver is not playing well overall and is now down to the 5-seed in the Western Conference.

These are the main reasons why Jokic has fallen behind Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race.

3. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 53 games, 25.5 points, 9.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.0 FG%, 33.2 3P%

Besides Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, if there is another player who needs to be voted for MVP this season, it has to be Cade Cunningham. Aside from the “feel-good” story with the Detroit Pistons, Cunningham has arguably been the best full guard in the league this season, making a greater two-way impact than Gilgeous-Alexander.

Only Jokic has provided more assists than Cunningham this year, and what the Pistons’ star has done to lead his team to the top of the East standings is remarkable. Not only is he doing this with his scoring, but Cade has set a tough standard for how the Pistons will play every night.

He doesn’t back down from any opponent and Cunningham takes on his opponent for the full 48 minutes and puts all the pressure of the game on them. It’s what’s allowed Jalen Duren to have a breakout All-Star campaign, and it’s what’s allowed this young Pistons team to suddenly go from being the favorite to make it to the NBA Finals in the East.

Between rarely missing a game and being on the team with the best winning percentage in the entire NBA, Cunningham is definitely in the MVP race with SGA and Jokic. Quite honestly, if you look at the MVP race from the perspective of a player who has exceeded expectations at the top of the league, Cunningham Is MVP. If you ask JB Bickerstaff, he’d agree.

4. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 46 games, 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 50.1 FG%, 34.1 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 4 more games to remain eligible.

Since the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama has averaged 19.2 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor. His plus-minus stats over his last six games are among the best in the league, but Wembley’s MVP case has unfortunately come down to where the San Antonio Spurs finish in the West standings.

Should the Spurs move on from Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, it would be difficult to deny Wembley the MVP award as he will have the numbers and best record in the NBA to back it up.

However, for the moment, what Gilgeous-Alexander has done with the best record in the West is surpassing Vembanyama’s success. While many would argue that this is an individual award that should be given to the league’s best player throughout the season, team success always plays a role in the race for this award each year.

This season is no different, and while Wembley can increase his MVP odds by racking up his playoffs in the stretch run of the season, the Spurs will still need to pass the Thunder in the standings to win the MVP.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 48 games, 32.5 points, 8.6 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.0 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

The only MVP case for Luka Doncic at this point might be that he leads the league in scoring, and his nearly triple-double numbers are the best of his career. While both of those things may be true, one can’t argue with Doncic being ahead of any of the other four players in the MVP rankings.

Not only is Doncic behind the level of play of Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, but expectations for both Cunningham and Wembanyama make more sense in this race as well. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers have not been playing well recently and are in danger of falling into the play-in zone of the West standings.

Very few players have won the MVP award while their team was not at the top of the league standings, and those who did had historic seasons that will forever be remembered in NBA history. That’s not the case with Doncic this year.

just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 6 last week]

7. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 8 last week]

8. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers [Ranked No. 7 last week]

9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks [Ranked No. 9 last week]

10. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 10]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

Victor Wembanyama became the first casualty due to injury, hurting his chances of winning the NBA MVP award. Nikola Jokic then missed 16 games, putting him on the verge of exceeding the 65-game minimum. Now Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is struggling with injury, which could end his hopes of winning MVP for the second consecutive time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star has missed seven consecutive games after suffering an abdominal injury suffered on Feb. 3 against the Orlando Magic. When the Thunder announced this injury, it was said that their MVP award would be reevaluated after the All-Star break.

Initially, there was hope that Gilgeous-Alexander would be cleared to return for the team’s first few games after the All-Star break, but nothing has been said. With five of their next six games remaining, will SGA return from his injury during the Thunder’s upcoming road trip?

Since suffering this injury, the Thunder have gone 4-3, and got a much-needed key win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. The game was Gilgeous-Alexander’s seventh consecutive missed game and his ninth overall absence this season.

This means Gilgeous-Alexander can only miss a maximum of eight more games to remain eligible for end-of-season honors and awards. Although he is still in good shape, the situation could change quickly if the reigning MVP is unable to return to the court this upcoming week.

This year’s race for the NBA MVP award hinges heavily on who can stay healthy, as almost all players in the top five of these rankings are close to the maximum of 17 allowed absences to remain eligible.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 42 games, 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 58.4 FG%, 42.1 3P%

In his three appearances since the All-Star break, Jokic has averaged 29.7 points, 15.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game, while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. These are MVP-like numbers for the three-time MVP, despite the Denver Nuggets losing two of those games.

The argument for the MVP award right now seems to center on availability, as Jokic has played 42 games compared to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 49 games. Has Jokic performed enough in his short appearances to justify winning the MVP award over Gilgeous-Alexander, whose team is still the best in the NBA?

This is definitely a big debate that many don’t have an answer to at this point, and that’s the main reason why Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury return is so important to the MVP race.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 49 games, 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 55.4 FG%, 39.0 3P%

There is still no update on when Gilgeous-Alexander can return to the court. Until then, the MVP race is in a holding pattern of sorts, as four or five more missed games would put him on par with Jokic in terms of missed time.

Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander still ranks second in the league in scoring, and the Thunder (44–14) have the best record in the NBA. He may be No. 2 in the NBA MVP rankings right now, but it’s really a 1A and 1B situation between him and Jokic.

With seven weeks left in the regular season, no player is a wrong answer for MVP.

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 49 games, 25.5 points, 9.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.3 FG%, 33.8 3P%

What Cade Cunningham has accomplished for the Detroit Pistons this season is remarkable. Not only do the Pistons have the best winning percentage in the league at the moment, but Cunningham leads the league in total assists, and the only player with more assists per game is Jokic.

In his first game after the All-Star break, Cunningham had a stellar performance against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Pistons’ All-Star recorded 42 points for his third 40-point performance of the season, and he also added 13 assists and eight rebounds to his name.

Since the All-Star break, Cunningham has had back-to-back double-doubles with 13 assists. He is firmly holding the No. 3 spot in these MVP rankings.

4. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 42 games, 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 51.1 FG%, 35.7 3P%

Wembanyama has overtaken Luka Doncic to take the No. 4 spot in the NBA MVP rankings for a few reasons. In addition to the San Antonio Spurs catching the Thunder for the best record in the NBA, Wembley has been on a hot streak recently.

Since his impressive 40-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Los Angeles Lakers before the All-Star break, Wembanyama has averaged 23.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor in his last three games.

Spurs are undefeated in this region, and Wembanyama has led his team to eight consecutive wins. This is the longest active winning streak in the NBA.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 44 games, 32.8 points, 8.5 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.1 FG%, 35.5 3P%

There’s no denying that this has been the second-best season of Luka Doncic’s career after finishing third in MVP voting during the 2023-24 season. Doncic is not only leading the league in scoring, but he is also leading the league in 3-pointers made and attempted per game, as well as free throws made and attempted per game.

Offensively, Doncic is off right now, and the only word to describe his game right now is dominant.

However, Doncic’s ceiling has largely been set in the NBA MVP race this season. He can’t overtake Jokic or Gilgeous-Alexander as long as their teams lead the West standings, and Cunningham has himself locked into the No. 3 spot for now.

Between Wembanyama and Doncic, the Spurs star has the upper hand in both head-to-head and overall impact on his team’s championship aspirations this season. Doncic has missed 12 games this year, meaning he will need to stay healthy this year to qualify for awards and honors.

just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 6 last week]

7. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers [Ranked No. 8 last week]

8. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 7 last week]

9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks [Ranked No. 9 last week]

10. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Unranked last week]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.