Nikola Jokic is still number 1 despite being threatened by injury

It’s been two seasons since the NBA used its new one Player Participation Policywhich includes a minimum of 65 games for end-of-season awards and accolades, such as the MVP award. Not even halfway through this season, the 65-game minimum is being challenged by members of the media and fans of all 30 teams, especially considering how much it could affect talents like Nikola JokicGiannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembaniama, and others.

Jokic has never played fewer than 69 games in any season during his career and has always been seen as one of the most durable superstars in the NBA. Well, Denver Nuggets‘ the three-time MVP recently suffered a hyperextended left knee injuryand his early injury that the team discovered was a at least four weeks.

Basically, that means Jokic will not be eligible for end-of-season honors and awards, including the MVP award, even though he has been the clear favorite over the past few weeks.

Should the NBA seriously consider changing or revamping its 65-game minimum rule for players who have no choice but to miss games due to significant injuries? This is certainly a debate worth having, but the main focus right now is on the MVP race and whether Jokic will return in time and not miss more than 17 games.

The good news about Jokic is that this is not a season-ending injury and that it looked a lot worse than it turned out. Jokic never takes a break during the season, so there’s still a chance he can come back and remain eligible for the MVP award.

That is why the Serbian star is still at the top of the MVP ranking entering 2026, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stays with him in this race and will overtake Jokic if he misses four or more weeks with this knee injury.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: 10th week | 9th week | 8th week | week 7 | 6th week | 5th week | 4th week | 3rd week | 2nd week | 1st week

1. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets

Previous rank: #1

2025-26 stats: 32 games, 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 60.5 FG%, 43.5 3P%

Before suffering the knee injury, Jokic had recorded three triple-doubles in his last four games, single-handedly keeping the Nuggets afloat with injuries to Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown and Cam Johnson. Even in the 19 minutes he played in the first half against the Miami Heat on Dec. 29, Jokic was injured, but he still had 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

It’s not crazy to think that Jokic would have added another triple-double to his resume this season had he not been injured in Miami.

Jokic has missed three games so far and will miss Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. After Monday, he will be allowed to miss 13 more games to remain eligible for the MVP award.

While the time for re-evaluation and possible removal sooner than expected will be near, there is still a chance Jokic remains in good standing with the 65-game minimum rule. That’s why he remains at the top of the NBA MVP list.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder

Previous rank: #2

2025-26 Stats: 35 games, 31.9 points, 6.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 55.4 FG%, 41.9 3P%

If Devin Booker missed the 3-pointer for the win on Sunday night with 1.6 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns not knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder, then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander very likely would have been named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season.

Last week, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.0 points, 6.3 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the floor. He led the Thunder to sweeping victories over the Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks, lifting Oklahoma City to a league-best 30-6 record overall.

Gilgeous-Alexander also recorded four more 20-point games, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least 20 points to 107 games. As he continues to approach Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 consecutive 20-plus point games, the Thunder MVP’s resume will grow.

3. Luka Dončić – Los Angeles Lakers

Previous rank: #3

2025-26 Stats: 26 games, 33.7 points, 8.7 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.0 FG%, 32.0 3P%

Now that Jokic may not qualify for the MVP award, there is a clear path for Luka Doncic to compete with Gilgeous-Alexander at the top of the list. Doncic continues to do his thing, having recorded four consecutive 30-point games and has he led the Los Angeles Lakers to three wins in the last four games.

Like Jokic and many others, Doncic’s eligibility for season-ending honors remains up in the air.

Doncic has played in 26 of the Lakers’ 33 games this season, meaning he can miss 10 more games to qualify for MVP and All-NBA honors. Given his injury record over the last few seasons, Doncic is on a fine line in terms of eligibility for this list.

However, he still leads the league with 33.7 points per game and has been heating up lately when it comes to consistently scoring over 25 points.

Previous rank: #7

2025-26 Stats: 32 games, 30.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 51.0 FG%, 37.0 3P%

The only MVP candidate no one is talking about and continues to disrespect Jaylen Brown. Even after winning the 2024 NBA Finals MVP and establishing himself as arguably the best two-way wing in the league, with Jayson Tatum the clear No. 1 option for the Boston Celtics, many continue to overlook Brown’s skills.

Well, he might not be able to much longer, as the Celtics star has been on a hot streak lately and the Celtics are near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Boston is just half a game behind the New York Knicks for the No. 2 seed and 3.5 games behind the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in what was thought to be a retooling season for the Celtics.

That’s no longer the case in Boston, as Brown makes this team look like a real threat in the East.

The Celtics star is one of four players to average at least 30 points per game this season, joining Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Maxey.

Previous rank: #4

2025-26 stats: 32 games, 29.3 points, 6.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 47.5 FG%, 38.0 3P%

Even though the Knicks have been struggling lately, it’s not because of Jalen Brunson.

Last week, while the Knicks were 1-3, Brunson averaged 28.0 points, 6.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 44 percent from the floor. Between his scoring and shot creation in New York, Brunson is firmly in the top five of the NBA MVP race, and that’s not likely to change.

Then again, he’s a level below Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic, as he competes with Cade Cunningham and Brown in the rankings. Where the Knicks finish the season in the standings will play a role in where Brunson ends up in the MVP race as well.

It’s just missing the cut

6. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons (ranked fifth last week)

7. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs (6th place last week)*

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks (unranked last week)*

9. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 8 last week)

10. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers (unranked last week)

*A signal player is not expected to meet the minimum 65 game threshold for awards/recognition.