Here’s the latest I can share about the NBA MVP race.
Answer
- As of mid-December 2025, Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić were leading the MVP conversations in most early-season discussions, with other top candidatesLike Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham also generating strong cases in various rankings.[1][3][8]
- By February 2026, several outlets highlighted Cade Cunningham making a surge into the MVP conversation, with rankings showing a tight race among SGA, Jokic, Dončić, and Cunningham, and Brown/Jalen Brunson as notable contenders in the mix.[3][5][6][8]
- A March 2026 analysis from NBC Sports framed the season as a four-to-five-man race featuring SGA, Jokic, Dončić, Brown, and Cunningham, depending on health and performance down the stretch.[4]
Context and sources
- The MVP straw poll from December 2025 indicated strong support for Jokic and SGA at the top, with growing discussion around Dončić and others in the mix.[1]
- Major outlets continued to publish updated MVP ladders through early 2026, reflecting shifting perceptions as players’ seasons progressed and injuries impacted candidate pools.[5][3]
- By January–February 2026, media rankings and expert panels consistently placed Cunningham among the top contenders, signaling a broadened field beyond the early-season frontrunners.[6][5]
If you’d like, I can pull up the most recent official MVP ladder or summarize current odds from sports books, and include a quick comparison table of top contenders with their season stats (points, rebounds, assists, win share). Would you like that?
Citations
- MVP straw poll and player context around Jokic/SGA, etc.[1]
- Kia MVP Ladder and top contenders updates through 2025–2026 (including Cunningham surge)[3][4][5][6]
- Additional rankings and race analysis highlighting the evolving field[8]
Sources
nba mvp Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. nba mvp Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com
economictimes.indiatimes.comNikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić continue to lead the way, but the rest of the Ladder remains up for grabs.
www.nba.comSGA? Jokic? Cup MVP Jalen Brunson? We polled 100 media members in a ballot that mirrors the league's official vote.
www.espn.comFive weeks into the 2025-26 season, it looks like we could be headed for an all-time MVP race
www.cbssports.comCunningham, Brunson and Brown all have strong cases for the third spot in the rankings behind SGA and Luka
www.cbssports.comDiscover NG news from thousands of sources on NewsNow. The latest news, analysis and opinion from around the world.
www.newsnow.comAll-Star Weekend is drawing closer and Detroit's star rises up in the latest Kia MVP Ladder.
www.nba.com