Victor Vembanyama is clearly in the early lead

If the first week of the 2025-26 NBA season is an indication of anything, it’s that this is going to be something of an MVP race over the course of the 82-game season. The level of competition in the NBA is currently at the highest level, and this is reflected through many historical performances we witnessed during the first six days of the new season.

There have already been 12 different 40-point games in the NBA during Week 1, including three 50-point games. In addition to the elite results, some of which are on ClutchPoints’ first MVP chart, there were numerous double-doubles that we have never seen before.

No one should be shocked to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic again fighting in the MVP rankings. Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning league MVP for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are 3-0 to start the new season, and Jokic is right back to posting triple-doubles like it’s nothing.

Other superstars love it Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka DončićStephen Curry and Jalen Brunson also lead their teams to the top of the NBA rankings, but one player who leads everyone else after a week is Victor Vembanyama.

Entering the 2025-26 NBA season San Antonio Spurs had many questions to answer.

How will Mitch Johnson fare in his first season as head coach? Do the Spurs have enough depth to compete in a crowded Western Conference? What is the health status of Victor Vembanyama?

The last question was the most important, as Wembanyama was shut down after the All-Star break last season because of a blood clot discovered in his shoulder. After taking time off to treat his condition, the San Antonio big man went on a spiritual journey this offseason, visiting the Shaolin Temple in China and preparing for the 2025-26 season mentally, not just physically.

So far through three games, Vembanyama is in the best form of his young career, and he has been dominating every player he goes up against on both sides of the court. Now in his third season, Wemby has sent a clear message to the rest of the league that he is back and ready to lead the Spurs to glory.

As a result, he sits alone atop ClutchPoints’ first MVP rankings for the 2025-26 season.

1. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs

2025-26 Stats: 3 games, 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 6.0 blocks, 1.7 steals, 56.9 FG%, 36.4 3P%

After a huge debut with 40 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for Victor Vembanyama against the Dallas Mavericks, the 7’4″ big man (if that’s what they want to call him) posted 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks against the New Orleans Pelicans. He had 31 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Not only are Vembanjama’s stats insanely impressive in the first week of the season, it’s the manner in which the Spurs youngster puts up these numbers that makes him special.

In that first game of the season against Dallas, Wembanyama stunned the fans and left them in awe with some spectacular dunks and blocks. But there was one particular moment that captivated NBA fans everywhere.

Defensively, Wembanjama emphatically blocked Derek Lively II, a fellow seven-footer. After getting the bounce, Wemby isolated the ball down the court for the Spurs, made a Kyrie Irving-like pass over Lively, went back for a 3-pointer, then drained it while being fouled.

EMPHATIC BLOCK.

ISO STEPBACK 4-POINT PLAY.

10-0 WEMBIE RUN… HE’S 31! pic.twitter.com/VP4HvuDLNn

— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2025

It was an MVP moment for Vembanyama and a statement to the rest of the league that he is not playing this season. Vembanjama has everything going for him, and moments like these create a race for NBA MVP.

Through three games, Vembanjama has 100 points and 18 blocks. He is the first player in NBA history yes ever record such numbers through the team’s first three games. Take that for data!

The big question is whether Vembanjama can stay healthy all season and play at least 65 games to make his MVP mark. Still, the Spurs are 3-0, and there’s no denying that he was the NBA’s best player in the first week of the regular season.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-26 Stats: 3 games, 40.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, 40.0 FG%, 22.7 3P%

With Jaylen Williams out to start the new season, everyone knew that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would have to do even more offensively than last year to keep the Oklahoma City Thunder atop the league standings.

So Shai did what he does best — continued to break down opposing defenses, get to the free throw line and slow the pace when needed, and figure out ways to get others involved without constantly playing in isolation.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s stats to start the year are very consistent with his performance last season, minus the inflated numbers when Williams was sidelined. Not to mention, SGA and the Thunder played two double overtime games early in the season.

In those four overtimes, Gilgeous-Alexander went 7-of-15 from the floor and scored a total of 27 points. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the toughest players in the league, and has continued to take over tight games in the fourth quarter and overtime to start this new season.

The MVP of the current league is firmly behind Vembanyama in the NBA MVP rankings.

3. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers

2025-26 Stats: 2 games, 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 62.0 FG%, 31.8 3P%

No player had a better start to the 2025/26 season than Luka Doncic. What he did with LeBron James out was like video games, as Doncic scored at least 43 points in each of his first two games, including a 49-point performance that fell short of 50 points on a missed free throw late in the fourth quarter.

Luka has two of the season’s best five results over six days, but there are concerns about Doncic and his health.

Coming off some kind of groin injury after the first game of the season, Doncic suffered two more injuries after a 49-point outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Lakers give Doncic a week off with a sprained left finger and contusion of lower left leg.

Although these are not significant injuries and will probably only miss two or three games, Doncic is still missing time. There are obvious concerns about whether Luca’s body can withstand the physicality of an 82-game season, which is why he doesn’t rank above Wembanyama or SGA on the MVP ladder.

Still, there’s no denying that the history he’s made so far is impressive.

Doncic became the first player in the history of the Lakers to record back-to-back 40-point games to start the seasonand he is the fourth player in NBA history to do so: Anthony Davis, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain are the others. His 92 points in Los Angeles’ first two games of a new season are the fourth most points scored in the first two games of a season in NBA history.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks

2025-26 Stats: 3 games, 36.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, 66.7 FG%, 16.0 3P%

All offseason, questions surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future and whether he would eventually request a trade loomed large for the Milwaukee Bucks. Even after returning from the 2025 EuroBasket tournament, where he won a bronze medal for Greece, many questioned Giannis’ commitment to the Bucks.

Well, the Greek freak is not only all-in with the Bucks this season, but he’s also taken his game to new heights.

Milwaukee is 2-1 after three games, most recently against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Giannis has had at least 31 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in each game. Giannis had 40 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists against the Cavs on Sunday.

Not only did he become the first player ever to have 60 points, 30 rebounds and 10 assists through his first 2 games of the season, but now has the third-highest 40-point, 10-rebound, five-assist game in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson.

Compared to the others on this MVP list, Giannis is the most dominant basketball player in the world when it comes to putting the team on his back. He did just that to start the season for the Bucks, and Giannis is sending a message to the rest of the league that he’s doing his best for Milwaukee.

5. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets

2025-26 Stats: 2 games, 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 41.9 FG%, 12.5 3P%

Nikola Jokic has seen two games to start the 2025-26 NBA season, as his 3-point shooting has been abysmal and his scoring well below his usual averages. However, Jokic is still 2-for-2 with triple-doubles.

After 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the Denver Nuggets’ 137-131 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors, the team bounced back with a 133-111 home win over the Phoenix Suns. Jokić scored 14 points, 14 rebounds and 15 assists in 32 minutes against Phoenix.

Although his efficiency and points are down, Jokic is still off to an incredible start and nearly had the Nuggets 2-0 to start the year.

His scoring will increase as the season progresses, and his current numbers only show how valuable Jokic truly is to the Nuggets’ success. Many players around the league would be frustrated and put their heads down if they went through the struggles Jokic has to start the season.

But Jokić is not like other players and constantly makes those around him significantly better. That’s what he accomplished through two games this season.

It’s just missing the cut

6. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors

7. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks

8. Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers

9. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers

10. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves