The 2025-2026 NBA MVP race will go down as one of the greatest of all-time. It is highlighted by the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, and Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic all having historic seasons.
Now, there are some honorable candidates such as Luka Doncic from the Los Angeles Lakers and Cade Cunningham from the Detroit Pistons. Luka Doncic led the league in scoring with 33.5 PPG, while Cade Cunningham led the Pistons to their first 60+ win season since the 2005-2006 NBA season.
This topic has been heavily debated, as each candidate has a solid case to win the prestigious award. Additionally, its impact on each of their legacies can elevate them into basketball royalty.
For Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s his chance to win back-to-back MVPs, as his elite consistency has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 60+ win season.
For Wembanyama, he can become the youngest MVP in league history, beating out Derrick Rose, just after winning the Defensive Player of the Year unanimously in the same season.
He could join Michael Jordan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players ever to win the MVP and DPOY in the same year.
For Jokic, he can become the sixth player in NBA history to win four MVP awards, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Bill Russell (5), Michael Jordan (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4), and LeBron James (4).
In the NBA’s final straw poll, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won, receiving 88 of 100 first-place votes. He’s the current favorite to win the award, while Wembanyama is second, and Jokic is third.
So, this leads us to one question: Who should take home the 2025-2026 NBA MVP? Let’s look at the stats and overall player impact throughout the season.
Let’s start off with the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or as others like to call him, “Free Throw Merchant.” First and foremost, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is far from a quote-unquote, “Free Throw Merchant.” In fact, he’s one of the most dynamic scorers in the league; he’s having one of the most efficient scoring years in NBA history.
Photo Credit: April 2, 2026, Thunder vs. Lakers (Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman)
Coming off an MVP, NBA Championship, and Finals MVP, the expectations for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were sky-high, which should be expected for a player of his magnitude. It was no surprise that he would not only meet those expectations, but manage to surpass them.
To start this season, the Thunder went 24-1, matching the historic 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors for the best start in NBA history.
Throughout that run, the reigning MVP averaged 32.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. The Thunder was so dominant in that stretch that within the team’s first 25 games, Shai didn’t play in the 4th quarter in 13 of those games.
The team did eventually have a few rough patches, but ended the season as the number one seed in the Western Conference, finishing with a 64-18 record.
The three-time All-NBA guard averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds on 55.3% shooting from the field. That percentage ranks first for players averaging 30+ PPG (points per game), beating out Michael Jordan who shot 53.9% in the 1990-1991 NBA season.
His 31.1 PPG on 66.5% true shooting percentage is ranked second in highest true shooting percentage by a player averaging 30+ PPG. The only player ranked above him is Stephen Curry in his 2015-2016 unanimous MVP season.
His PER (Player Efficiency Rating) is 30.8, which ranks second in the league, only behind MVP candidate Nikola Jokic. Furthermore, Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in win shares with 15.2 for the season.
His insane consistency has led to him beating records set more than 60 years ago. On March 12, 2026, the three-time All-NBA guard broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 straight games with 20+ points. His streak spanned from last season, a testament to his reliability and availability.
His threat as an elite scorer allows his teammates to flourish, and elite defensive contributions have helped the Thunder become the number one ranked defense in the NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the engine of OKC’s offense, as his consistency and dominance have proven his worthiness as an MVP candidate.
However, down in San Antonio, their young star Victor Wembanyama has built his own case for the MVP award.
Photo Credit: December 25, 2025, Spurs vs. Thunder (Zach Beeker/Getty Images)
After ending his 2024-2025 season early due to blood clots, Victor Wembanyama had immense hype coming into this season. His freakish length combined with his guard-like skills and defensive prowess gave him the nickname “The Alien.”
So, as the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner, it’s easy to say the hype was deserved. Not to mention, he’s also the youngest player in NBA history to win the award.
His season averages are 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 51.2% field goal shooting. Additionally, he leads the league in blocks with 3.1 per game, a sign of his elite interior defense and rim protection.
Wembanyama leads the league in various advanced defensive metrics such as defensive rebound percentage (33.9%), block percentage (9.4%), defensive win shares (5.0), and defensive box plus/minus (+4.2).
Building upon my previous statements, Wembanyama ranks around the top at defensive rating with approximately a 101.0 rating. In summary, he’s put together one of the greatest defensive seasons in NBA history.
This doesn’t even include his impact on the offensive side of the ball, as he can score anywhere on the court, being one of the most versatile centers in the league. His true shooting percentage is at 62.6%, as his ability to stretch the floor, allows his teammates to thrive.
His contributions have led to the Spurs amassing a 62-20 record and finishing second in the West. By the end of the season, the Spurs had an 119.6 offensive rating (4/30), and 111.6 defensive rating (3/30).
Additionally, he’s led the league in blocks each season since being drafted. Prior to Wembanyama, only centers Dikembe Mutombo and Marcus Camby had achieved such an accomplishment.
It’s safe to say that Victor Wembanyama has become the defensive anchor for the San Antonio Spurs. His dominant defense is a part of his game that will haunt teams for years to come.
Although, in Denver, they have an equally dominant center, but on the offensive side of the court. Using his elite shooting and playmaking abilities to bring the Denver Nuggets to victory.
Photo Credit: March 19, 2024, Nuggets vs. Timberwolves (Ron Chenoy/USA Today)
This leads us to the final candidate in this MVP race: Nikola Jokic or “The Joker” as he is referred to in the league.
Prior to the 2025-2026 NBA season, it was no surprise that expectations were high for the three-time MVP. However, throughout this NBA season, Jokic has proven to be one of the greatest offensive centers of all-time.
He averaged a triple double with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists on 56.9% field goal shooting. He also made history this season by becoming the first center to average a triple-double in back-to-back seasons. Furthermore, he became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists in the same season.
Additionally, the Denver Nuggets have been quite successful, ending their season with a 54-28 record, placing third in a competitive Western Conference.
Analyzing the advanced stats, his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is at 32.3, higher than both Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama. His impact on the court is the most efficient, allowing the Nuggets’ high-powered offense to thrive.
Furthermore, Jokic led the league in offensive win shares (11.5), offensive box plus/minus (+10.1), and box plus/minus (+14.2). These stats all demonstrate Jokic’s offensive genius, as his contributions to the Nuggets have directly led to their success throughout the 2020’s.
The Nuggets also post an offensive rating of 122.6 (1/30), the best in the National Basketball Association.
Although, unlike Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic is not by any metrics an “elite defender”, but his offensive impact outweighs his defensive contributions.
So, let’s circle back to our question: Who should win the 2025-2026 NBA MVP?
After all of the evidence that has been provided, I believe that the 2025-2026 NBA Most Valuable Player Award should go to Victor Wembanyama.
Photo Credit: April 1, 2026, Spurs vs. Warriors (Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images)
When assessing the MVP of the league, Wembanyama’s two-way dominance has been the biggest factor to the Spurs’ major turnaround in this year’s season.
In the 2024-2025 NBA season, the San Antonio Spurs went 34-48, placing 11th in the Western Conference. However, as previously mentioned, Wembanyama played in only 46 games this season, before he was sidelined for a blood clot.
In the 46 games Wembanyama played, San Antonio went 21-25, an approximately 45% winning percentage. In the 46 games after he was sidelined, the Spurs went 13-23 to end the season, an approximate 36% winning percentage.
When comparing the Spurs’ improvement from last season, they increased their win percentage by 34.1%, adding 28 more wins. They went from a lottery team to championship contenders within one off-season.
Including his NBA Cup Finals appearance, Wembanyama played in 65 games (64 regular season), increasing his games played by 19. This directly coincided with the increase in win total for the Spurs.
We’ve already covered his legendary impact on defense, but could go more in-depth on his impact on the Spurs’ offense. His 29.2 PER ranks third in the NBA, and when he’s on the floor, his team boasts a 123.2 offensive rating. Now when he’s off the court, the Spurs offensive rating drops to a 117.0 offensive rating, a -6.2 decrease in the advanced stat.
In the 2025-2026 NBA season, with Wembanyama on the floor, the Spurs had a 78.1 winning percentage, a 50-14 record. With Wembanyama off the court, the Spurs had a 66.7% record, going 12-6.
Additionally, his offensive box plus/minus is at a +6.5, which is fifth-best in the league, a clear sign of his positive impact on the team’s offensive system. Victor Wembanyama is not only an anchor on defense, but the engine of the Spurs’ dynamic offense.
Ultimately, this year’s MVP race will be one that we remember for years to come. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic, each of these players do have legitimate cases for winning the most prestigious award in basketball.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency has brought the Oklahoma City Thunder back-to-back 60+ win seasons. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic’s playmaking abilities have made the Denver Nuggets an offensive juggernaut.
While they’ve been setting offensive records and winning, Victor Wembanyama’s two-way dominance has catapulted the San Antonio Spurs into a familiar place.
So, when Victor “The Alien” Wembanyama walks away with the award in late May, don’t say I didn’t tell you so.
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