MVP NBA: Wembanyama Challenges Shai and Jokic

The NBA has officially revealed the three finalists for the 2026 Most Valuable Player award: Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic. Three distinct profiles, united by an exceptional season and a decisive impact on their respective teams.

Three Different Seasons

The current frontrunner is Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, who closed the regular season averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists, shooting 55% from the field – numbers that cement his status among the best players in the league.

Wembanyama, in his second NBA season, continues his rise with averages of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds in under 30 minutes per game. The San Antonio Spurs big man establishes himself as one of the most impactful players on both ends of the floor.

No less impressive is the season turned in by Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, who posted averages of 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both assists and rebounds simultaneously.

The Other Award Races

Clutch Player of the Year

Beyond the MVP race, Gilgeous-Alexander is also among the finalists for Clutch Player of the Year, alongside Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets.

Edwards is included despite not reaching the 65-game minimum typically required for seasonal awards, as nominations for this recognition were determined by NBA head coaches.

A similar situation applies to Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham, who fell short of the game threshold but were still included in the voting process under the “extraordinary circumstances” clause. While neither is among the MVP finalists, both remain candidates for the All-NBA Teams.

Defensive Player of the Year

Wembanyama is also a central figure in the Defensive Player of the Year race, widely regarded as the favorite after leading the NBA in blocks per game for the third consecutive season. Joining him as finalists are Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons, the league leader in steals per game.

Most Improved Player

Among the other individual awards, Jalen Duren is a finalist for Most Improved Player, following a remarkable scoring leap from 11.8 to 19.5 points per game, alongside Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks and Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers, in his first season as an All-Star.

Rookie of the Year

For the Rookie of the Year award, the finalists are Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, and VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Coach of the Year

Finally, the Coach of the Year finalists are J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons), Mitch Johnson (San Antonio Spurs), and Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics).

The NBA award winners will be announced throughout the week, with all three MVP candidates still fully engaged in the playoff race.