The 10 favorites for the NBA MVP 2026/27: Will we have a new winner?

The NBA is about to lift the curtain on the 2026-27 season. The course will kick off with a Pistons-Celtics game, a Knicks-76ers match, and a Spurs-Thunder showdown, while the main contenders begin to take shape in the fight for the MVP. Predicting the champion becomes increasingly complicated in a competition that has seen eight different champions in the last eight years. The race for the Most Valuable Player award, however, features a list of contenders led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama.

The award is reserved for a select group of stars. Some will attempt to repeat their recent successes, while others will seek to carve out a place among the players who have achieved the most prestigious individual recognition of the regular season. These are the main candidates for the NBA MVP 2026-27.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on a historic mission

Statistics from the 2025-26 season: 31 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. 55% field goal shooting and 38% from three-point range, with 4.4 attempts per game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander arrives as the reigning two-time MVP, after winning the award in 2025 and 2026. The Canadian star of the Oklahoma City Thunder will now seek a feat that no one has accomplished since Larry Bird in 1986: winning the award three consecutive seasons.

Since then, several basketball legends have attempted to complete that same feat without success. Among them are Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Gilgeous-Alexander’s compatriot, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokić.

At 28 years old, Shai is experiencing the best moment of his career. His mastery of mid-range shooting and scoring ability place him back among the top favorites. Additionally, he arrives with special motivation after Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs eliminated Oklahoma City from the possibility of winning their second consecutive ring in the Conference Finals.

His main obstacle might be off the court. The fatigue of the journalists voting for the award, given the possibility of choosing the same player again, could hinder his chances. Gilgeous-Alexander will try to break a barrier that has resisted the great NBA stars for four decades.

Nikola Jokić, chasing his fourth MVP

2025-26 Season Statistics: 27.7 points, 13 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. 57% shooting from the field and 38% from three-point range, with 4.5 attempts per game.

Although Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokić remains one of the most offensively influential players in the NBA. The Serbian center, who won the award in 2021, 2022, and 2024, is capable of producing points both for himself and for his teammates. His court vision is one of the pillars of the dynamic system of the Denver Nuggets.

The Balkan player believes he could have won at least one of the awards corresponding to 2023 and 2025, which ended up in the hands of Joel Embiid and Gilgeous-Alexander, respectively. Both benefited from significant media campaigns in the United States, according to the analysis surrounding the race for the award.

Jokić has also suffered from the wear and tear that can come from having the same winner repeatedly. This factor has prevented him from completing a series of three consecutive MVPs. However, a fourth award would allow him to match the four accolades of Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James.

The Serbian comes off a complicated playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves led by Rudy Gobert. Nevertheless, the MVP recognizes performance during the regular season, and his numbers suggest he will have another extraordinary year. Jokić has averaged a triple-double for two consecutive seasons, so his chances will largely depend on the voters' criteria.

Victor Wembanyama, the most complete player

Statistics for the 2025-26 season: 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. 51% in field goals and 35% in three-pointers, with 5.5 attempts per game.

Jokić continues to be an offensive reference, but Victor Wembanyama already stands out for his overall impact on both sides of the court. At 22 years old, the French center has established himself as one of the most decisive players in the competition.

Last year, he finished third in the MVP race and argued that he deserved recognition for his dominance in both offense and defense. Additionally, he has already been named Defender of the Year, an award he could accumulate in the coming years, which would allow him to aim to surpass the four awards of his compatriots Rudy Gobert, Ben Wallace, and Dikembe Mutombo.

Despite his offensive influence, Wembanyama still has room for improvement. Among the aspects he can perfect are his shooting, shot selection, and post-up play. The Frenchman has also spoken about the importance of slowing down the pace to enhance his creation ability from the top of the key.

His motivation does not seem to be an issue either. The Spurs' defeat to the Knicks in the Finals still stings for the Frenchman, who will seek to take another step in his individual and collective evolution.

Luka Dončić, facing the opportunity to win his first MVP

2025-26 season statistics: 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. 47% shooting from the field and 36.6% from three-point range, with 11 attempts per game.

Luka Dončić has been in the MVP conversations practically since his arrival in the NBA. However, the Slovenian has never managed to win the award. At times, he has faced rivals with stronger arguments, and at others, a lack of consistency throughout the season has limited his chances. So far, he has only finished as a finalist once, in 2024.

The impact of the trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers also did not help him achieve his goal. This season, however, he could find more favorable conditions: he arrives in good shape, is adapted to Los Angeles, and the Lakers have built a roster designed for him following LeBron James's departure.

At 27 years old, the point guard still has aspects to improve. Among them is his turnover ratio, with four per game last season. He will also need to control his protests to referees and correct his defensive shortcomings.

Beyond the statistics, improving in these areas can help him grow as a leader and reinforce his candidacy for the award.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, a fresh start in Miami

2025-26 Season Statistics: 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. 62% in field goals and 33% in three-pointers, with 1.3 attempts per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo completes the top five favorites. The Greek, a two-time MVP winner in 2019 and 2020, embarks on a new chapter in Miami with the intention of reestablishing himself among the best players in the league.

At 31 years old, the power forward is still in his athletic prime. The previous season was particularly challenging due to the issues faced by the Milwaukee Bucks and injuries, which limited him to 36 games, the lowest in his NBA career.

Now he faces the new Miami Heat project with excitement alongside Bam Adebayo. The team change represents an opportunity to regain his rhythm and compete for major individual and collective goals.

However, the quality and depth of Miami's perimeter, weakened by the price paid to acquire Antetokounmpo, could become a disadvantage for the Greek.

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Jalen Brunson, the main American hope

2025-26 season statistics: 26 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. 46.7% in field goals and 37% in three-pointers, with seven attempts per game.

The top five MVP favorites are international players, and there is a considerable gap between that group and the American stars who follow them in the rankings.

The United States is looking to end a drought that has lasted since 2018, when James Harden won the last American MVP. Jalen Brunson stands out as the country's top candidate due to his role as leader of the reigning champions, the New York Knicks, and MVP of the last Finals.

The 1.88-meter point guard excels in one-on-one situations, his extraordinary footwork, and his low center of gravity, allowing him to throw off his defenders. For this reason, he deserves to be among the contenders despite not having received any MVP votes last season.

At 30 years old, it is hard to imagine how much more he can improve, but he will need to take another step forward if he wants to lead the Knicks in defending their title.

The challenge will be particularly demanding. Champions often face each game with the added motivation of their opponents, who want to defeat the best team. Additionally, New York will begin their title defense with a roster weakened by the absence of Mitchell Robinson and with Karl-Anthony Towns unhappy because the franchise is not offering him the renewal he desires.

Cade Cunningham, the best-placed American

2025-26 Season Statistics: 24 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. 46% in field goals and 34% in three-pointers, with 5.7 attempts per game.

Cade Cunningham is the American candidate with the best chances of winning the MVP award. The Detroit Pistons guard finished fifth in last season's voting, as the highest-ranked American player, and has reasons to aim for more.

At just 25 years old, he has room for improvement and ambition to win the award. He can be more efficient in shooting and reduce turnovers, which averaged 3.7 per game during the last season.

His influence on the game goes far beyond scoring. Cunningham is noted for his vision and came close to averaging a double-double last season, with 9.9 assists per game.

His leadership ability is beyond doubt after he remained steadfast when the Pistons faced a particularly challenging period and racked up losses three seasons ago. The question is whether he will receive enough support from the American media to have his value as a player recognized.

Anthony Edwards still has room to grow

2025-26 Season Statistics: 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. 49% in field goals and 40% in three-pointers, with 8.4 attempts per game.

Anthony Edwards is already, at 25 years old, one of the big faces of the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves player continues to improve each season and took an important step last year as a creator, with a more developed game vision to respond to the defensive attention of his opponents.

In addition to his offensive ability, Edwards stands out for his impact on both sides of the court. His defense, still undervalued, constitutes another argument for considering him a potential MVP candidate.

However, the arrival of LaMelo Ball may influence his individual prospects. Sharing playmaking duties with the former Charlotte Hornets point guard could relieve him of some pressure, although it would also reduce his prominence as he would have less time with the ball.

Jayson Tatum, an alternative to consider

2025-26 Season Statistics: 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. 41% in field goals and 33% in three-pointers, with nine attempts per game.

Jayson Tatum has already appeared in the MVP conversation, and the departure of Jaylen Brown, traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, could open an opportunity for him to compete for the award.

Without his teammate, also known as one of the two members of the Celtics duo nicknamed the Jay, Tatum will take on the absolute leadership of Boston for the first time in his career. This responsibility will place him even more in the spotlight, although it will also increase the pressure.

The forward, 28 years old, needs to finish recovering his best level after a serious injury. Last season, he could only return in the final stretch of the course.

Tatum is in full athletic maturity and stands out for his ability to influence both sides of the court. Among his offensive virtues, there is also an aspect that does not always receive enough recognition: his skill in creating opportunities for his teammates. That playmaking ability was key in the 2024 Finals when Boston won the championship against Luka Dončić's Dallas Mavericks.

Donovan Mitchell wants to enter the race for the award

2025-26 season statistics: 28 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. 48% in field goals and 36% in three-pointers, with nine attempts per game.

Donovan Mitchell also deserves to be among the candidates, even if it is as a more distant alternative to the main favorites. The Cleveland Cavaliers star received a vote in the last MVP election and was among the eight players who garnered support.

Mitchell has publicly defended that he deserves to be part of that conversation. Although the award recognizes performance during the regular season, last year he took a step forward by leading Cleveland to the Conference Finals for the first time in his career.

His coach, Kenny Atkinson, has highlighted the excellent form with which Mitchell has arrived for the preseason. Additionally, the shooting guard has recently signed a contract extension with Cleveland for four years and $273 million. For this new campaign, he will also have the help of James Harden and Mario Hezonja.

Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, and Cooper Flagg among the alternatives

Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard also received votes in the MVP race last season, but their chances of being in contention seem more limited after their respective trades.

Brown will share a team in Philadelphia with LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. Leonard, on the other hand, arrives at a Toronto Raptors team where he will partner with Scottie Barnes.

Another name generating great expectations is Cooper Flagg. The generational phenomenon will face his second season in the NBA with the intention of continuing to grow, but it seems early to include the number one pick of the 2025 Draft in the MVP race, especially at just 19 years old.

With the 2026-27 season about to begin, the competition for the award presents a wide list of contenders, from the major international favorites to the American stars who will try to end their country's drought. Who should win the MVP?

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 10 favoritos al MVP de la NBA 2026/27: ¿Tendremos un nuevo ganador?