NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings Has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Effectively Ahead But Luka Doncic Gains Ground

As we head into the ultimate spherical of video games of the NBA cup, and finally into the vacation season, we now have 3 standout gamers who will doubtless finish the season as the highest three. But that doesn’t imply we will low cost some beautiful seasons from different contenders. In our newest MVP Power Rankings for the 2025-26 NBA Season, we see the ship keep regular, however there’s motion between the highest three.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proceed to scorch the league as they’re off to a franchise-best 23-1 begin. The juggernauts look unstoppable, and their franchise famous person is on a special stage altogether. Gilgeous-Alexander continues to take a seat out fourth quarters, and when he’s wanted in shut video games, he has had no hassle scoring at will and deciding video games on his personal.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets are having nice seasons, however their achievements pale compared to a Thunder staff that many are predicting will break the Golden State Warriors’ 73-9 document. Both Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are having unbelievable seasons and are maybe the one respectable threats to Gilgeous-Alexander securing the MVP award for a second season working.

In the East, the Detroit Pistons proceed to carry their reign atop the standings, nonetheless, the New York Knicks are beginning to shut in. They are 13-1 at dwelling, and the Mecca of basketball is wanting like a fortress. It might be one other repeat of final 12 months’s playoffs, the place each groups confronted off in an unbelievable sequence. Both Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham have been large elements for his or her groups’ success.

Tyrese Maxey continues to place up a season worthy of the document books and is carrying a Philadelphia 76ers staff that merely lack the firepower they’ve possessed these previous few years. Others proceed to impress, too, so what do the newest NBA MVP energy rankings for the 2025-26 season appear to be?

Who simply missed out?

6. Jalen Brunson (Last Week’s Rank: tenth)

7. Austin Reaves (Last Week’s Rank: fifth)

8. Alperen Sengun: (Last Week’s Rank: seventh)

9. Donovan Mitchell (Last Week’s Rank: eighth)

10. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (Last Week’s Rank: ninth)

Sportskeeda NBA MVP Power Rankings 2025-26 Season: Latest Top 5 After Week 5

5. Tyrese Maxey

Previous Ranking: — sixth

PER: 23.40 | 60.2 TS% | Team document: 11-10 | 31.5 PPG, 7.2 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, & 0.9 BPG

While Tyrese Maxey’s scoring has been, undoubtedly, a very powerful issue for the Philadelphia 76ers, the sheer variety of minutes he performs each sport threatens to derail his marketing campaign. He is the one participant to play over 75% of his staff’s minutes this season. In truth, he’s practically performed 82% of his staff’s minutes this season. A workhorse.

There is a critical threat right here however Maxey continues to dazzle regardless of apprehension. He continues to be in rivalry to chase down the scoring title and can also be taking part in phenomenal protection. With Joel Embiid struggling to seek out his footing, there’s a clear signal for the 76ers that Maxey have to be the participant they sit up for. For his efforts, he continues to carry on to the fifth spot regardless of gamers like Jalen Brunson and Austin Reaves closing in.

One particular stat that backs his MVP case

Maxey is averaging practically two steals and a block a sport, all whereas chasing the scoring title and pouring in practically 32 factors a sport.

4. Cade Cunningham

Previous Ranking: — 4th

PER: 22.23 | 56.2 TS% | Team document: 17-4 | 27.5 PPG, 9.3 APG, 6.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG, & 0.8 BPG

Cade Cunningham continues to be the Eastern Conference’s finest participant. Leading a Detroit staff that’s severely wounded from their deafening season from a number of years in the past. Heralding the ship along with his co-captain Jalen Duren, the Pistons look formidable on protection.

Cunningham’s taking pictures has improved drastically over the previous few video games and for the season, he’s taking pictures 38% on 3s. He additionally stays the one different participant apart from our prime three to have an opportunity at profitable MVP.

Despite being second in clutch scoring for the NBA Cup, the Pistons shockingly didn’t even make the quarterfinals. The Smooth Operator will probably be fairly bummed about that and will definitely use it as gas to inspire him for the playoffs.

One particular stat that backs his MVP case

Cade Cunningham’s averages in factors are the best for the Pistons in 24 years.

3. Nikola Jokic

Previous Ranking: — 2nd

PER: 35.42 | 71.9 TS% | Team document: 17-6 | 29.2 PPG, 11.0 APG, 12.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG, & 0.8 BPG

Nikola Jokic continues to common a triple-double for the season; nonetheless, the Joker has failed to drag a number of aces in the previous few of his. In his final 10 video games, he’s averaged practically 29-11-11, all of the whereas taking pictures a ridiculous 43% from three-point land.

The Nuggets failed to succeed in the quarter-finals of the NBA Cup and it stays an accolade the Joker is but to win. Jokic continues to be scoring and dominating at will. At the time of writing, he continues to common 41% from three, 61% from the sphere and 85.5% from the charity stripe. The absurdly environment friendly season continues.

Despite that, he has slipped to second on varied oddsmakers’ books.

One particular stat that backs his MVP case

He has nearly 4 occasions as many 25-point-10 help video games by a middle because the individual in second place, Wilt Chamberlain.

2. Luka Doncic

Previous Ranking: — third

PER: 29.23 | 62.0 TS% | Team document: 17-6 | 35.0 PPG, 9.1 APG, 9.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG, & 0.6 BPG

There is each motive to really put Luka Doncic on fourth place. He missed a key sport in Toronto to attend the start of his second daughter. And but he travelled over 8000 miles in 72 hours to drop 31-15-10 over a gritty 76ers staff.

Doncic is having his finest 12 months but, and it appears to be like as if the 2024 NBA scoring chief will look to retake his crown. In the sport vs Philly, he handed Nikola Jokic for probably the most 30-point triple-doubles in NBA historical past, and maybe that helped him catapult previous the Joker in our MVP energy rankings too. He is likely to be averaging probably the most free-throw makes an attempt by any participant in NBA historical past however to his credit score, he’s additionally second in scoring with out free throws.

The Lakers will face a sizzling San Antonio Spurs staff, which might welcome again one other MVP contender in Victor Wembanyama. Doncic will probably be relishing that matchup if it involves fruition, as he’s the league chief in ending on the rim and has a flawless document vs Wemby.

One particular stat that backs his MVP case

Luka Doncic is scoring an otherworldly 93.5% of his discipline objectives on the rim. Hyper-efficient.

1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Previous Ranking: — 2nd

PER: 33.71 | 68.6 TS% | Team document: 23-1 | 32.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.4 SPG, & 0.7 BPG

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to indicate us an unbelievable mastery of the sport with 30-point video games in as many minutes, in nearly each sport. The Oklahoma City Thunder are having a ridiculous season and the first motive for that’s SGA’s extremely constant play.

As of now, Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring probably the most factors per minute since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. The reigning MVP has additionally produced 9 video games the place he scored 30 factors in lower than half-hour. It ties the NBA document set by Giannis Antetokounmpo and with solely 24 video games into the season, it’s a certain guess that he would almost definitely make that document his personal.

He might additionally turn out to be the one participant in NBA historical past to common 30 factors per sport whereas taking pictures greater than 55% from the ground and 40% from three. He additionally gained the perfect Canadian athlete of the 12 months award, however maybe his consideration will probably be on the NBA Cup. For now, although, he’ll maintain on to the crown of our NBA MVP energy rankings for the 2025-26 NBA Season.

One particular stat that backs his MVP case

SGA has 100 fourth-quarter factors this season, which is nice for the perfect document. He has additionally logged solely 78 minutes within the fourth on this complete season, which is nice for roughly 240th.