Race for MVP | Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeus-Aleksandar, more efficient than ever

The MVP race in between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander etc Nikola Jokic was already epic last season, before Oklahoma City’s record finally led voters to decide on the Thunder’s leader.

Perhaps this season starts even stronger between the two men, who both show an incredible level…

Because we have to understand that Nikola Jokicalready a three-time MVP, he’s coming off the best season of his career. The Serbian is multiplying triple-doubles, and even if he plays a little less than last season, he is showing his best averages in rebounds and assists, while making 70% of his 2-point shots and 43% of his 3-point shots. At such an offensive scale, this efficiency has almost no meaning.

Incredible skill levels

Only Rudy Gobert (72% success) shows better 2-point efficiency, but he takes half as many shots, and they have nothing to do with those of his counterpart.

And since the Nuggets are currently in 3rd place in the West (but with the same record as the Lakers, currently second), Nikola Jokic therefore has a strong case to reclaim the Maurice Podoloff trophy.

The problem is that he is not the only one who has had a great start to the season. Because in terms of efficiency, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not bad either. He also shows incredible success rates for a player so involved in the offense: 60% on 2-pointers and 41% on 3-pointers.

The craziest thing is that with the dominance of the Thunder, who certainly benefited from a fairly favorable schedule, but who especially had to without Jaylen Williams and which crushed most of its opponents, “SGA” played almost only the first three quarters of the season. He is the second player to score the most points in the first quarter since the restart, behind only James Harden.

Luka Dončić, the third man

But he is first in the second and third quarters. On the other hand, he is 58th in the fourth quarter, as he is 260th in minutes played in the final quarters of games…

Enough to almost forget you are Luka Dončić who is the best scorer in the league and that the Slovenian has arguments to join the race, if the Lakers stay in the heights of the West and avoid visits to the infirmary. The spotlights of Los Angeles are really particularly powerful.

Giannis Antetokounmpo he can undoubtedly be the fourth man in the race for MVP of the season, because he is essential for the Bucks. The problem is that he’s injured right now, and Milwaukee is only 11th in the East.

Therefore, it is currently not in the game, while Cade Cunninghammore than ever the leader of Detroit’s surprising team, first in the East, deserves to be mentioned behind the leading three. To complete this top 5, Donovan Mitchell is the strongest option, with Victor Wembanyama on the mend and Anthony Edwards’ Wolves need to convince. Certainly, the Cavaliers are less strong than last season and the point guard has regained (too much?) control of Cleveland’s offense, but that has mostly to do with various injuries.

OUR TOP 5 IN THE RACE FOR MVP 2025/26

1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Results: 13 wins, 4 losses – 3rd in the West.
Matches: 17 played out of 17 possible.
Stats: 29.6 points, 12.8 reb, 11.1 rebs, 1.6 int, 0.8 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 63% on shots, including 43% on threes and 85% on free throws.

2 – Shai Giljus-Alexander (Thunder)
Results: 18 wins, 1 loss – 1st in the West.
Matches: 18 played out of 18 possible.
Stats: 32.6 pts, 4.9 reb, 6.6 rebs, 1.6 int, 0.8 ctr and 1.7 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 55% on shots, including 41% on threes and 90% on free throws.

3 – Luka Doncic (Lakers)
Results: 13 wins, 4 losses – 2nd in the West.
Matches: 13 played out of 17 possible.
Stats: 35.2 pts, 8.8 reb, 9.2 pads, 1.9 int, 0.5 ctr and 4.2 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 47% on shots, including 33% on threes and 79% on free throws.

4 – Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
Results: 15 wins, 3 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 15 played out of 18 possible.
Stats: 28.1 pts, 6.1 reb, 9.3 pads, 1.3 int, 0.7 ctr and 3.6 pdb in 36 min.
Percentages: 45% on shots, including 30% on threes and 83% on free throws.

5 – Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
Results: 12 wins, 7 losses – 5th in the East.
Matches: 17 played out of 19 possible.
Stats: 29.9 pts, 4.8 reb, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 int, 0.4 ctr and 3.2 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 50% on shots, including 38% on threes and 83% on free throws.