Top 5 unchanged after the return of Nikola Jokić from injury

Are we preparing another one Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Nikola Jokic MVP race? Now that Jokic returned to the field due to a knee injuryit looks as if these two superstars will battle it out until the end of the 2025-26 NBA season for the MVP award.

Fortunately for Jokic, a knee hyperextension injury sidelined him for 16 games. During this part, Denver Nuggets went 10-6, like Jamal Murray entered the MVP conversation last week.

The reason Jokic’s 16 missed games are important is because he can only miss one more game this season to remain eligible for awards like MVP. Players must participate in at least 65 games to be eligible for awards and recognition at the end of the season.

The Nuggets have 32 games left on their schedule, including a seven-game back-to-back. Will Jokić play in all of Denver’s games in the rest of the season?

If it was up to Jokic, he would never miss a game unless he literally couldn’t step on the court. That happened after his knee injury, but even then the three-time MVP wanted to return before the Nuggets let him.

Whether or not the Nuggets want to cut his minutes after the All-Star break and rest him for “load management,” it could be the difference between Jokic winning his fourth MVP or Gilgeous-Alexander winning his second straight award.

As of this point, Gilgeous-Alexander continues to hold a slight edge over the Nuggets center, despite Jokic’s big 31-point night after missing back-to-back weeks with a knee injury.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Sunday 14 | 13th week | Sunday the 12th | Sunday 11 | 10th week | 9th week | 8th week | week 7 | 6th week | 5th week | 4th week | 3rd week | 2nd week | 1st week

Previous rank: #1

2025-26 Stats: 48 games, 32.0 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 55.8 FG%, 39.1 3P%

After scoring 34 points in the Thunder’s 121-111 win over Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 120 straight games. He is approaching Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record of 126 consecutive games with 20 plus points.

At this rate, SGA should be able to break the record on Feb. 20 at home against the Brooklyn Nets, assuming they don’t miss one of Oklahoma City’s next seven games.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been the Thunder’s leading scorer in 11 straight games, and has scored fewer than 25 points in just one of the last eight games. Although Oklahoma City has hit a rough patch of late, Gilgeous-Alexander continues to rise to the top of the MVP rankings.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous rank: #2

2025-26 stats: 34 games, 29.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 60.9 FG%, 44.0 3P%

Jokic made a clear statement when he returned Friday night against the LA Clippers, a game the Nuggets won comfortably 122-109. In just 25 minutes, Jokić scored 31 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals while shooting 8 of 11 from the floor.

At no point in this game did Jokic look weak or out of rhythm with his knee injury, and he picked up where he left off in December. It’s certainly not too late for Jokic to catch up with Gilgeous-Alexander in this MVP race, especially since he’s still averaging a triple-double this season. Not to mention, the Nuggets are only half a game behind the San Antonio Spurs for the 2 seed.

It will be interesting to see how the Nuggets use Jokic’s minutes before the All-Star break and if he misses any games.

3. Luka Dončić – Los Angeles Lakers

Previous rank: #3

2025-26 Stats: 40 games, 33.6 points, 8.8 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.6 FG%, 34.8 3P%

Luka Doncic is starting to put together a very compelling case to be at the top of the MVP rankings with Gilgeous-Alexander, possibly even above Jokic. When Doncic is off the court, the Lakers’ offense has been one of the worst in the NBA, and he still leads the league with 33.6 points per game.

The past week certainly didn’t help anyone in trying to catch up with Luca in the scoring race, as the Lakers star averaged 35.5 points per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the floor. Doncic (29) currently trails SGA (34) in most 30-point games this season, but his eight games with at least 40 points lead the league.

As good as Doncic has been, the Lakers’ struggles and inconsistencies are why he still ranks No. 3 on the NBA MVP list.

4. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics

Previous rank: #4

2025-26 Stats: 45 games, 29.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 48.5 FG%, 36.2 3P%

Even with the Boston Celtics continuing to be successful and tied with the New York Knicks for the No. 2 seed two weeks before the All-Star break, no one wants to give Jaylen Brown the MVP attention he deserves.

In addition to being a defensive-caliber player this season, Brown ranks fourth in scoring behind only Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards. He is also averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists.

Should the Celtics continue their upward trajectory in the East, possibly vying with the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in the standings, Brown will absolutely earn a spot in the top five of this season’s MVP voting.

5. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Previous rank: #5

2025-26 Stats: 42 games, 25.2 points, 9.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.0 FG%, 32.4 3P%

Only two players in the NBA are averaging over nine rebounds per game this season: Jokic and Cade Cunningham.

The Pistons are currently the best team in the East, and are just two games behind the Thunder for the best record in the NBA. Factor in Cunningham averaging over 25 points per game, and it’s clear why he’s firmly in the top five in the MVP race right now.

Not to mention, Cunningham’s defensive abilities often went unnoticed due to his offensive skills. Cunningham played a big role in the Pistons finishing second in defensive scoring this season. Much like how the Thunder are going Gilgeous-Alexander, the same can be said for Cunningham and his feisty Detroit crew.

It’s just missing the cut

6. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs (5th place last week)*

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

8. Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets (seventh place last week)

9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks (seventh last week)

10. Tyrese McKay – Philadelphia 76ers (unranked last week)

*Signals player is in danger of reaching the minimum threshold of 65 games for awards/recognition.