The 2025–26 NBA MVP could very likely be a first-time winner—and someone people rarely talk about in that tier, at least in previous seasons. That someone could be either Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons or Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics.
Cunningham and Brown could be the forerunners for MVP at season’s end because the more high-profile candidates—Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers—could be disqualified from winning any end-of-season awards due to missing the 65-game threshold the NBA instituted a few years back.
Jokic, who’s averaging 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 10.5 assists, already has missed 16 games and is just one missed game from disqualification. Doncic, who’s putting up 32.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.5 assists, has missed 12 games and is just five away from being disqualified. SGA, meanwhile, has been sidelined for 11 games, most recently due to an abdominal strain, and he could be out of the running for any award if he is sidelined six more times.
Even Victor Wembanyama, who’s on pace for a career year with averages of 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 blocks, might not reach the 65-game limit, as he has missed 13 games already and is just 4 away from disqualification.
Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham Are Worthy MVPs
Of course, that’s not to say Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown are MVP candidates on sheer technicality. Both are playing at an MVP level this season and are worthy of getting votes regardless of who’s eligible.
Brown, who has played in 51 of Boston’s 56 games this season, is averaging 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists and has led the Cs to the second seed in the East in what many thought would be a down year for the Celtics. Cunningham, meanwhile, has played in 49 of Detroit’s 55 games and has put up 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in leading the Pistons to the second-best record in the NBA.
So, even if Doncic, Jokic, and company were eligible for MVP, it’s safe to say Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham could stake a legit claim to winning that prestigious award regardless.
