2025-26 NBA MVP Ladder

25-26 NBA MVP Ladder:

As the calendar flips to January 6th, 2026, the 25–26 Finest Magazine NBA MVP Ladder is beginning to take real shape, with a compelling mix of familiar dominance and rising superstardom defining the race. Nikola Jokić remains the league’s ultimate constant, continuing to bend games to his will with unmatched efficiency and feel, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s steady brilliance has Oklahoma City firmly in the contender conversation. Jaylen Brown’s two-way impact and expanded leadership role have elevated Boston’s ceiling, and Cade Cunningham’s command of Detroit’s offense signals the arrival of a true franchise centerpiece. Rounding out the top five, Kevin Durant’s ageless scoring mastery and nightly reliability remind everyone that excellence doesn’t expire. With plenty of season left, this MVP race is already rich with storylines—and far from settled.

1. Nikola Jokic: 

Stats: 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 11 assists

Before his recent knee injury (hyperextension), he was on pace to become the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists. In addition, he’s a top-five scorer. Also, in 32 games this season, Jokić had a triple-double in half of them.

Thus proving why Nikola Jokic is undoubtedly the best player in the game. He also has 28 double-doubles, shooting 60% from the field, 43.5% from deep and 85.3% from the charity stripe. Again, before this injury, Jokic was miles ahead as the MVP front-runner. The only doubt to where this won’t be the case is if he doesn’t meet the 65 minimum game requirement to qualify for the award. 

2. Shai Gilgeous Alexander:

Stats: 31.6 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds

While the Oklahoma City Thunder have hit a bit of turbulence by their lofty standards—going 5–5 over their last ten games—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has largely remained the same steady force, which is why he still sits second on my MVP ladder. That said, two of those five losses stand out, coming in back-to-back games against Phoenix and at home versus Charlotte, where SGA didn’t quite meet his usual bar. In those losses, he averaged 23 points, six assists, and one rebound while shooting just 34 percent from the field and 18 percent from three. It could simply be an outlier during the NBA’s dog days, or it could be the first hint of a rough patch. Either way, time will tell.

3. Jaylen Brown:

Stats: 29.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Jaylen Brown has been outstanding over the last few weeks, making a clear jump into third place on my MVP ladder. In a season where many expected Boston to fade after the injury to All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum and a flurry of offseason trades, Brown has instead elevated both his game and the Celtics, keeping them near the top of the Eastern Conference. Boston has won eight of its last ten games, including a current four-game win streak, and Brown has been at the center of it all—highlighted by a 37-point, seven-rebound, four-assist performance on 60/40/70 splits against Portland and a ridiculous 50-point, five-assist outing versus the Clippers on 69/60/80 shooting. With the Celtics sitting second in the conference, Brown is also posting career highs in field goal percentage (50.1) and free throw percentage (77.7), underscoring just how efficient and impactful his season has been.

4. Cade Cunningham:

Stats: 26.7 points, 9.7 assists, 6.2 rebounds

Cade Cunningham, who is firmly in the conversation as the best point guard in the league, is quietly putting together the best season of his career across the board—setting highs in points, assists, and steals per game, all while posting a career-best 111 defensive rating. His impact was on full display in a dominant 121–90 win over the Knicks, where he finished with 29 points and 13 assists on blistering 64/75/80 shooting splits. More importantly, his steady control on both ends has Detroit thriving, with the Pistons sitting atop the Eastern Conference at 27–9, making Cunningham’s MVP case impossible to ignore.

5. Kevin Durant: 

Stats: 25.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists

The greatest scorer of his era and one of the best to ever do it, Kevin Durant continues to operate at an MVP level. A regular member of the ultra-exclusive 50/40/90 club, Durant is once again flirting with that standard, shooting 52 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from three, and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line. If he finishes the season at 50/40/90, he would become the oldest player in NBA history to accomplish the feat. Durant has been elite all year, and especially lately, leading Houston to a 4–1 record over their last five games while averaging 28.4 points, six rebounds, and 6.8 assists. The Rockets have climbed to fourth in the Western Conference during that stretch—and it’s worth noting Durant is doing all of this without starting point guard Fred VanVleet in the lineup.

The Best of the Rest:

6. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

7. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

8. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

9. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

10. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves