The MVP race hasn’t been this tight in years. After the 202526 NBA regular season ended, three exceptional candidates remained—Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama. Whoever earns the most votes will create a storyline that could reshape NBA history.
SGA Could Win Back‑to‑Back MVPs and Championships
This season, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are heavily favored to win the championship. Their NBA‑best 64‑18 record shows just how dominant they’ve been. SGA could capture another MVP trophy while leading the Thunder to a second straight title.
The Thunder struck gold when they traded for Gilgeous‑Alexander in 2019. In seven years, he has already delivered the franchise’s first championship ever (or since 1979 if we count the days of the Seattle Super Sonics). Back‑to‑back MVPs for a non‑American player isn’t unprecedented—Nikola Jokic won in 2021 and 2022 before reclaiming the award in 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo did it in 2019 and 2020, and fellow Canadian Steve Nash won in 2005 and 2006.
The difference is that SGA could become the only non‑American to win back‑to‑back MVPs and championships, and the first player overall to achieve the feat since LeBron James in 2012 and 2013.
Jokic Could Claim His Fourth MVP, Joining NBA Legends
If Nikola Jokic wins, it would be his fourth MVP in six years, placing him alongside Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar—an elite group of players with four or more MVPs.
Such an achievement would elevate Jokic’s career trajectory, potentially cementing him as a top‑10 player of all time. Could he surpass names like Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, or Kobe Bryant on that list? That remains to be seen, as he is still in the middle of his prime.
Statistically, Jokic towers over the competition. He finished the season averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game, with shooting splits of 57‑38‑83. His third triple‑double season made him the league leader in defensive rebounds, total rebounds, assists, efficiency, and triple‑doubles. He also surpassed 6,000 career assists—an extraordinary milestone for a center—further solidifying his legacy as the greatest passing big man in NBA history. He also became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists in the same season.
Too bad he’s already out of the playoffs after his Nuggets were bounced by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the very first round.
Wembanyama Could Become the Youngest MVP Ever
Victor Wembanyama may be a long shot, but some analysts already consider him the league’s best player. If he wins the Michael Jordan Trophy in May, he will become the youngest MVP in history at 22 years and 4 months, surpassing Derrick Rose, who was 22 years and 6 months when he won in 2011.
Wembanyama has already been named the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, meaning he could join Michael Jordan (1987–88) as one of only a few players to win both MVP and DPoY in the same season. Still, outpacing Gilgeous‑Alexander and Jokic in the voting remains a tall order.
What makes Wembanyama’s case even more intriguing is that he hasn’t reached his peak. In just his third season, San Antonio’s All‑Star big man became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, yet it’s clear he has more to offer beyond his commanding defensive presence.
