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NBA MVP Rankings: Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Repeat?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mark Medina | Last updated Mar 5, 2026 9:07 AM ET

This exercise seems more difficult than completing a 1,000-piece puzzle.

The challenge: how to properly determine the NBA regular-season MVP. Consider all the small but important puzzle pieces to fit together: the candidate’s play, his past résumé, his availability, his team’s record and how his teammates enhance or hurt his value.

Each voter weighs those criteria differently. Some solely prioritize the players’ production. Some also weigh the team’s success and supporting cast. Some favor incumbents. Some prefer first-time candidates. They also must consider a player’s health in regard to the NBA’s 65-game rule for awards consideration.

Sound confusing? It is. It's not an easy thought process considering every player’s unique circumstance. But here’s my outlook on the NBA’s current MVP race with 1 1/2 months left in the regular season.

5. Cade Cunningham

Detroit Pistons point guard

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham operates with the ball during his team's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on March 3, 2026.David Richard-Imagn Images


PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3-pt FG%
25.2	5.8	9.9	.457	.329

With his selfless leadership style, improved shooting efficiency and consistent playmaking, Cunningham has enhanced his MVP chances and the Pistons’ odds to contend. In his fifth NBA season, the 24-year-old Cunningham has grown as an outside shooter and perimeter defender. He also has maximized the Pistons’ youthful depth with his creative passing and sharp vision.

Cunningham still has more work to climb in the MVP rankings. Just like during the Pistons’ first-round playoff exit last season against the New York Knicks, Cunningham continues to struggle to reduce turnovers. He has also appeared limited against some top teams that schemed heavily against him, including the Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Cunningham has enjoyed strong bounce-back performances, but elite players maintain steady play regardless of the opponent.

4. Jaylen Brown

Boston Celtics guard/forward

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drives toward the basket while Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate defends at TD Garden on March 4, 2026.Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images


PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3-pt FG%
28.9	7.2	5.0	.480	.348

Few projected the Celtics would have an MVP candidate and a playoff-caliber roster. Not after losing their top player (Jayson Tatum) to an Achilles injury and two others (Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis) in cost-cutting trades. Boston has emerged as a true contender, however, as Brown has increased his scoring role without hogging the spotlight.

Brown has proven for some time that he can coexist with Tatum by becoming more deliberative with his shooting, ball-handling and passing. Brown has also established himself as one of the NBA’s most feared perimeter defenders thanks to his quickness, footwork and aggressiveness. This season, Brown took another leap by thriving as a top option. Brown has carried the Celtics enough to show his individual greatness as one of the NBA’s best two-way players. Yet, Brown has also shown he can elevate his teammates, even if they are all role players.

3. Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs center

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama reacts after his team scores against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 3, 2026.Bill Streicher-Imagn Images


PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3-pt FG%
23.4	11.1	2.9	.501	.343

The versatile 7-foot-4 star has exerted his dominance with skill, added strength and aggressiveness. Those traits have made Wembanyama a Defensive Player of the Year favorite for his consistent rim protection, physicality and communication. Those traits also explain Wembanyama’s scoring versatility as a post-up player, finisher and 3-point shooter.

Last season, Wembanyama fell out of regular-season award consideration after playing in only 46 games amid various injuries. This season, he has already eclipsed that figure with 1 ½ months left in the regular season. Wembanyama appears far from a finished product. He has experienced a few hiccups in physically imposing matchups. In most cases, though, Wembanyama has pushed his opponents around with fundamentally sound play and trash talk. He has set the tone for a young Spurs team with his maturity and intensity.

2. Nikola Jokić

Denver Nuggets center

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić warms up before his team's game against the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena on Feb. 25, 2026.Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images


PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3-pt FG%
28.7	12.6	10.3	.570	.401

Jokić has a legitimate shot to win his fourth MVP award in six seasons. He remains on pace to average a triple-double for a second consecutive season. With improved depth, Jokić has felt less pressure to score and has become a more effective playmaker. Though point guard Jamal Murray is enjoying improved health, the Nuggets have absorbed overlapping injuries to Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. Hence, Denver is fighting for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Regardless, Jokić has stayed adaptable as a passer against double-teams and as a versatile scorer against single coverage.

What could hurt Jokić’s case? He missed 16 games earlier this season after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee. Jokić has not shown any noticeable limitations since his return. But the NBA’s 65-game rule will prohibit Jokić from MVP or All-NBA consideration if he misses more than one of the Nuggets’ 20 remaining regular-season games.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander operates with the ball as New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado defends at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2026.Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images


PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3-pt FG%
31.7	4.4	6.5	.551	.384

Gilgeous-Alexander has slightly more wiggle room than Jokić with game availability. After missing 11 games mostly due to an abdominal injury, Gilgeous-Alexander will remain eligible for MVP so long as he doesn’t sit for more than six additional games. Hopefully, this MVP race doesn’t essentially become an Iron Man award, because Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented a strong case for a second consecutive MVP with his play alone.

He ranks second in the NBA in points per game. He remains on pace to finish with career highs in field-goal percentage, 3-point shooting and assists per game. He has elevated his scoring and playmaking to account for overlapping injuries to Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort. Even when facing opponents’ best schemes and physicality, Gilgeous-Alexander has adapted just fine with a balanced floor game and frequent trips to the free-throw line.

Despite the occasional dings with ailments and cold stretches, Gilgeous-Alexander has played the most consistently among the other MVP candidates. In related news, the Thunder still hold the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.