Who are the Top 3 contenders in the Kia MVP chase as 2025-26 nears its end? The Association's crew takes a closer look.
It would always be a tall order for anyone to crack the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/Nikola Jokić stranglehold on the top two spots in the Kia Race to the MVP, so it’s a good thing Victor Wembanyama stands 7-foot-4. Or maybe even 7-foot-5.
The MVP conversation has centered on those two, not only this season but also last season. They’ve always been a level up on the rest of the league because of their talent, team success and consistency. The MVP is always judged more strictly than other major seasonal awards, and Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić consistently met the steep eligibility requirements.
And now along comes a player who is doing much the same. The ability to move up a spot on the MVP Ladder is done weekly by a variety of players. But into the top two? That’s done this week by one player, the only one qualified to do so.
Yes, being No. 2 in this chase isn’t easy. Still, it serves as a salute to Wembanyama for elevating his game on both ends of the court, especially lately, and to the San Antonio Spurs, whom he has done all season. Individual and team accomplishments always favorably influence the MVP conversation, and Wembanyama is excelling in both.
He’s perhaps sitting in pole position for the league’s top defensive award as he leads the league in blocked shots, averaging 4.3 blocks per game over his last 11 games. In that span, he owns seven double-figure rebound games with a high of 17. Plus, he’s doing all that while his shooting and creativity are greatly improved from last fall.
Also factor in this perspective: Wembanyama is doing damage against the best the league can offer. His March 5 demolition of the East-leading Pistons — 38 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks — was among the best performances of the season by anyone. Then he followed up with a 39-point, 11-rebound showing vs. Boston.
He also had solid outings this month against the Houston Rockets and LA Clippers, two teams that entered those games with hot streaks and left with losses to Wembanyama.
All told, the Spurs have lost only once with Wembanyama in the lineup since Jan. 31. They are also right on the heels of the West-leading Thunder, a team Wembanyama has dominated this season.
Here in the home stretch of the Kia MVP race, it’s now a three-player sprint. Assuming none fall short of the 65-game requirement for the award, this should be very watchable.
Setting the stage this week: If Anthony Edwards plans to crack the Ladder’s top 10 and stay there, he’ll need to leverage himself Sunday against Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC. The reigning Kia MVP became an NBA champion partly because he outplayed Edwards in the 2025 Western Conference Finals. A game in mid-March obviously doesn’t carry the same significance. Still, there’s more urgency for this game with Edwards, not only to rank higher on the ladder, but to position Minnesota for a better playoff seeding.
The stat to know: Bam Adebayo moved into second place on the all-time single-game scoring list with 83 points on Tuesday. Here are the single-game career highs of the MVP Ladder’s top five: Gilgeous-Alexander, 55 points (this season); Wembanyama, 50 (tallest player to hit 50); Jokić, 61 (triple-double); Luka Dončić, 73 (tied for fifth-best in NBA history); Cade Cunningham, 46.
What they are saying: “I don’t think people know how hard it is to do that. To make 20 points in 10 (straight) games, not 120 or whatever it is, it’s special. He’s a special player.” — Jokić on Gilgeous-Alexander and the 20-point game streak.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week’s ranking: No. 1 ↔️
Season stats: 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists
His case: It has been a smashing last several days for Gilgeous-Alexander, who on Thursday claimed the consecutive 20-point game streak. He wrestled it from Wilt Chamberlain, who held the mark with 126 in a row, and anytime one of Chamberlain’s records falls, it’s an astounding achievement. It just reflects Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency and efficiency as he consistently keeps his performance level high, no matter the time of season or opponent.
In addition, the league’s top clutch scorer delivered a masterful performance against the Nuggets and Jokić earlier this week with 35 points and nine rebounds, including the game-winner on a 3-point shot. And then on Thursday, he took down the Celtics with 14 of his 35 in the fourth quarter. He has 38 games this season with at least 30 points.
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s ranking: No. 4 ⬆️
Season stats: 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocks
His case: It’s too bad Wembanyama missed Thursday’s game against Jokić and the Nuggets with an ankle sprain because he has been on a roll against quality opponents lately. We were denied a potentially epic competition; Wembanyama would’ve no doubt met the challenge if only because he has done so all season.
He’s averaging 28 points and 11 rebounds with 4.2 blocks in March and is impacting games more intensely because his minutes have increased. The Spurs did their best to preserve Wembanyama for much of the season because of injuries and to keep him fresh for the stretch run. That strategy has worked — the ankle injury isn’t considered serious — and now Wembanyama is being unleashed upon the league.
3. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Last week’s ranking: No. 2 ⬇️
Season stats: 28.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 10.4 assists
His case: Without Wembanyama in the lineup Thursday, Jokić feasted as expected, but even his eruption — 31 points, 20 rebounds, 12 assists — was impressive nonetheless. He remains on pace to become the first player to lead the league in rebound and assist average in the same season; in addition, he’s a virtual lock to place among the top eight in scoring as well. Jokić is poised to average a triple-double for the season, a feat no other player can attempt to claim.
He has two immediate goals to make a serious bid for his fourth MVP award: Maintain a high level of performance and somehow improve the Nuggets’ spot in the standings. Their slippage is a point of contention, and it’s the advantage that Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama hold over Jokić, at least for now.
4. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Last week’s ranking: No. 6 ⬆️
Season stats: 32.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.5 assists
His case: At this point, it would be a surprise if Dončić doesn’t maintain the NBA scoring lead and capture that title. After averaging “just” 27 points in February, his lowest scoring month of the season, he burst into March, helped by a 44-pointer against the Pacers, and shows few signs of falling off a 30-point pace.
The Lakers clearly depend heavily on his playmaking as well. When he flirted with high-scoring, high-assist games, the Lakers’ chances of winning increased. Dončić has essentially assumed the role of LeBron James in that sense. This is shaping up as his finest season.
5. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Last week’s ranking: No. 3 ⬇️
Season stats: 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 10 assists
His case: Cunningham continues to challenge for the assists title, with more examples of setting up teammates for easy shots, making the Pistons’ offense more fluid and unpredictable. He has four double-figure assist performances in six games this month, delivering 15 assists (with just two turnovers and playing just 26 minutes) in a 38-point win over the Nets, and is right at double-figure dimes this season.
Even better, he still has the Pistons on top in the East as they brace for a potential takeover attempt by the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum in the season’s final few weeks. It won’t be easy for Boston if Cunningham continues playing the way he has all season.
The next 5:
6. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers ⬆️
7. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics ⬇️
8. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves ⬇️
9. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers ⬆️
10. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks ⬆️
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
