How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury affects the race

This year’s MVP race was very intriguing because of how injuries dictated the standings. Health always plays a big factor in determining every award and eventual NBA champion, but it seems that when one MVP candidate goes off the injury list this season, another one is added. That’s exactly what happened with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic at the top of the ranking list.

Jokic missed a month of action after suffering a hyperextended left knee with a bone bruise, an injury that left him just one more absence short of meeting the 65-game minimum mark. The Denver Nuggets‘ the three-time MVP has played in five straight games since returning from injury, but now Gilgeous-Alexander is out for at least two weeks.

The Oklahoma City Thunderis the reigning MVP suffered a stomach strain during the team’s 128-92 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, and has missed two straight games as a result. Gilgeous-Alexander will miss at least three more games, as the team said he will be sidelined during the All-Star break, which officially begins on Feb. 13.

So, with Gilgeous-Alexander now out and possibly missing time when play resumes at the end of February, could Jokic use this opportunity to get back to the top of the table?

Although he missed four weeks of action and is dangerously close to being ineligible for awards and honors, Jokic’s numbers and ability to lift his team are why many still believe he should be the MVP this season.

Now that Gilgeous-Alexander is out, there may be an opportunity for Jokic to not only make up ground in this race, but potentially overtake SGA heading into the final few weeks of the season.

Right now, before the All-Star break, Gilgeous-Alexander is still atop the MVP rankings.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: 15th week | 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

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder

Previous rank: #1

2025-26 Stats: 49 games, 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 55.4 FG%, 39.0 3P%

Gilgeous-Alexander has missed only four games this season, so he is not yet in danger of being excluded from awards and recognition. That’s why he still resides at the top of this NBA MVP ranking.

However, the Thunder have been vulnerable of late, and Gilgeous-Alexander had some average performances by his pre-abdominal injury standards.

However, Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of at least 20 points to 121 straight games before the injury, meaning he should be able to break Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 125 consecutive games with 20 plus points upon returning to the court.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous rank: #2

2025-26 stats: 37 games, 28.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 59.4 FG%, 42.5 3P%

Since returning from a knee injury, Jokic has not lost a step in this race for the MVP award.

In the last five games, Jokic averaged 24.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor. After missing a month of valuable action, Jokic is still the same MVP candidate as he was earlier this year, giving him a chance to make up some serious ground at SGA while the current MVP is out with an abdominal injury.

Count Jokic at your own risk, because this guy has a real shot at winning his fourth MVP this season.

3. Luka Dončić – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous rank: #3

2025-26 Stats: 42 games, 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.3 FG%, 34.5 3P%

Luka Doncic had no footing in the MVP race last week as he produced some underwhelming offensive performances and will miss his second straight game on Monday night with left hamstring injury.

This will be Doncic’s 10th missed game, which now raises the question of whether he will be able to finish the year in good standing under the 65-game minimum rule.

As for Doncic’s overall MVP resume, the Los Angeles Lakers are now just one game behind Jokic’s Nuggets in the standings, which could end up changing some voters’ minds at the end of the season as these three stars jockey for position in the West.

4. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Previous rank: #5

2025-26 Stats: 45 games, 25.1 points, 9.7 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 45.9 FG%, 32.0 3P%

Cade Cunningham may not be putting up the same numbers as those before him on these MVP rankings every night, but the Detroit Pistons are winning, and Cade is finding ways to impact the game in more ways than just scoring.

Not only was Cunningham one of the league’s top facilitators when it came to assists, but he became one of the best two-way guards in the entire NBA. He is a big reason why the Pistons are one of the best defensive teams this year.

With wins over Denver and New York last week, Cunningham certainly has a strong MVP case with the Pistons atop the Eastern Conference standings.

5. Victor Vembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous rank: #6

2025-26 stats: 38 games, 23.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 50.7 FG%, 36.0 3P%

Victor Vembanyama has rejoined the MVP conversation and is again in the top five. Although he has missed 14 games this year, Wemby is still in good position with the 65-game minimum and is actually getting an extra absence due to the San Antonio Spurs playing in the NBA Cup Championship Game.

That could end up in Vembanyama’s favor not only for All-NBA and All-Defensive honors, but possibly for Defensive Player of the Year and MVP awards as well.

The Spurs are 3.5 games behind the SGA Thunder for the best record in the West, and San Antonio has already beaten Oklahoma City four times this year. In fact, they picked up another win against the defending champions on Wednesday, a game in which Wemby had 22 points and 14 rebounds. He followed this performance with 29 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals.

Vembanyama is now tied for sixth with 24 double-doubles this season and is tied for the league lead in blocks (103). If the Spurs can potentially pass the Thunder in the standings, Vembanjama will continue to move up the MVP rankings.

It’s just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics (4th place last week)

7. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves (seventh last week)

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

9. Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets (No. 8 last week)

10. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks (No. 9 last week)

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