NBA MVP Race Heats Up as New Contenders Challenge SGA

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Headlines a Wide-Open MVP Race

For the first time in roughly two decades, the NBA's Most Valuable Player award is shaping up as a genuine multi-candidate competition rather than a coronation. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters the final weeks of the 2025-26 season as the clear frontrunner, leading the league's best team with averages of 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game while shooting efficiently from all areas of the floor. Gilgeous-Alexander, who won the MVP award in 2025 in a landslide, praised the competitive field. "I think it's good for the league," he said. "There's a lot of good players in this league and a lot of guys in the conversation because of that."

Jokic and Wembanyama Push Hard

Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic is putting together one of the most statistically remarkable seasons in NBA history, averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game — numbers that place him on the doorstep of a full-season triple-double average, unprecedented in NBA history. San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, has made clear his desire for the MVP award while producing 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game in his second professional season. Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown has heard MVP chants in his own arena, posting 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, while helping Boston remain competitive despite the loss of key pieces from their 2024 championship team.

Luka Doncic and Historical Patterns

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic leads all NBA scorers with 33.5 points per game but faces eligibility uncertainty due to the 65-game minimum rule. MVP voting history strongly favours players who dominate first-place ballots, which currently points to Gilgeous-Alexander as the presumptive winner. The race continues a remarkable trend of international player dominance in the award, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Jokic, and Gilgeous-Alexander collectively winning every MVP award since 2019.