Race for MVP | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leader of the elimination race

Injuries will remain as one of the (unfortunately) unforgettable memories of this first part of the 2025/26 season. The NBA can claim to see no significant change, nor any connection to the busy and sometimes disjointed schedule, its stars regularly crouched in the franchise’s infirmaries. And this theme is sure to return with more force when honoring the best individuals of this exercise.

Midway through the season, some potential MVP contenders are already out of contention, due to the rule that requires them to play 65 games in a season to qualify for individual awards.

In this little game, Nikola Jokic etc Victor Vembanyama are among the major players at risk. The Nuggets pivot is an excellent candidate for player of the season, averaging a triple-double and nearly 30 points per game on one of the best teams in the league (3rd in the West, 4th overall with a 31-15 record). But due to hyperextension of the ligaments of his left knee, he has already missed 14 games. He has only three “jokers” left to hope for a fourth title. And the Serb’s return remains unclear, although he hoped for this or next week. The latter option would mean drawing a line under MVP, with Denver having to play three more games between now and Saturday…

Jokić – “Vembi”, same fight

Victor Wembanjama doesn’t quite play in the same statistical spheres as Nikola Jokic, but his impact on Spurs’ very good season is obvious. The French interior is better after a few small physical errors, and is now finding playing time above 30 minutes. But San Antonio continues to walk on eggshells with its gem, between a necessary presence on the floor and a desire to protect him for the season’s high-stakes encounters. Like Nikola Jokic, Viktor Vembanyama has just three games left before he is out of contention for trophies at the end of the season.

This rule will quickly exclude Giannis Antetokounmpo ballot and can also be expensive for Anthony Edwards (seven matches left), or even Luka Dončić. The Slovenian has acted as the third steal in the race for MVP so far and accelerated further in January with 34.2 points (on 49.1% shooting including 38.6% on 3-pointers), 9 assists and 7.1 rebounds on average. Monstrous, he was as used to heatstroke as he was to medical visits. If he has a greater advantage than Nikola Jokić or Viktor Vembanyama with “only” eight missed matches, the maestro of Los Angeles already has a mattress cut in half.

Luka Dončić is second, but the others are more or less distant Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderstill the favorite in his own succession after forty matches. The leader of Oklahoma City did not give up, as evidenced by his outings of 39, 40 and 47 points in the last ten days. And the Canadian remains a model of consistency and durability, with 45 games played out of 47 contested by the Thunder. “SGA” has one hand on the trophy, especially if Jokić and “Vembi” were to miss the rest of the regular season.

More than his impeccable individual performances, he will have to keep an eye on his team’s form in particular. OKC is no longer as overwhelming as it was at the beginning of the season. Worse still, the outgoing champion is losing more often with three defeats in his last five matches. The Thunder still have to see the West lead (5.5 games ahead of the Spurs and Nuggets), but watch out for the Pistons, who have just one more loss on the clock: 37-10 to Detroit’s 33-11.

A slowly but surely declining winning percentage could eventually factor into the minds of voters, especially after the historic foundation Oklahoma City was started on.

This could also allow Cade Cunningham to increase in votes. The leader of the Pistons is not experiencing his most spectacular period of the season: 16.6 points on 37.8% shooting in the last five games. If his wrist injury that sidelined him three times in 20 days heals as the Michigan franchise hopes, he could become one of the underdogs in this MVP race. Provided the starter for the next All-Star game stays healthy and the Pistons maintain this dynamic that would give them one of the best regular seasons in their history.

OUR TOP 5 IN THE RACE FOR MVP 2025/26

1 – Shai Giljus-Alexander (Thunder)
Results: 37 wins, 10 losses – 1st in the West.
Stats: 32.1 pts, 4.4 rpg, 6.2 pts, 1.3 int, 0.8 ctr and 2.0 pdb in 33.4 min.
Percentages: 55.9% on shots, including 39.4% on threes and 89.2% on free throws.

2 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Results: 31 wins, 15 losses – 3rd in the West.
Stats: 29.6 pts, 12.2 reb, 11.0 rpg, 1.4 int, 0.8 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 34.6 min.
Percentages: 60.5% on shots, including 43.5% on threes and 85.3% on free throws.

3 – Luka Doncic (Lakers)
Results: 28 wins, 17 losses – 5th in the West.
Stats: 33.8 pts, 7.8 reb, 8.8 rebs, 1.5 int, 0.5 ctr and 4.3 pdb in 36.5 min.
Percentages: 47.1% on shots, including 34.3% on threes and 78.7% on free throws.

4 – Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
Results: 31 wins, 15 losses – 2nd in the West.
Stats: 24.2 pts, 11.1 reb, 2.8 rebs, 0.8 int, 2.7 ctr and 2.7 pdb in 28.9 min.
Percentages: 50.6% on shots, including 37.7% on threes and 83.2% on free throws.

5 – Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
Results: 33 wins, 11 losses – 1st in the East.
Stats: 25.4 pts, 5.8 reb, 9.7 rpg, 1.5 int, 0.8 ctr and 3.9 pdb in 35.4 min.
Percentages: 45.5% on shots, including 32.7% on threes and 82% on free throws.