MIES (Switzerland) - As the world watches another exciting finish to the NBA season with teams gearing up for playoff battles, another intriguing league MVP race is about to be decided.
Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Serbia's Nikola Jokic and France's Victor Wembanyama are the frontrunners, while Luka Doncic appears set to miss out with injury likely preventing him from making an appearance in a 65th game he needs in order to contend.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (CAN), Oklahoma City Thunder
FIBA résumé: The dazzling SGA spearheaded Canada's run to third place at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and made the All-Star Five, and led his national team to the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Olympics. At the World Cup, he ranked No. 1 in average efficiency per game at 30.4, while his 24.5 points per game was fourth best overall. At the Olympics in France, the Oklahoma City Thunder playmaker was second overall in scoring at 21.0 points per game.
On his way to his first NBA MVP award last season with the Thunder, SGA averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists on 52% shooting from the floor. He remains the engine of Oklahoma City's offense, averaging 31.1 points per game this season - second in the league only to Doncic's 33.5 - along with 6.6 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per contest. SGA's field goal percentage is up to 55.3 percent and analysts say his improved off-ball movement has made his teammates better.
Nikola Jokic (SRB), Denver Nuggets
Had Serbia held on and beaten the USA at the 2024 Olympics, and then won the Final, Jokic was easily the MVP of those Summer Games and some will argue that he still was. His 31.0 efficiency per game was far and away the best in the competition, with USA's LeBron James - the MVP - fourth at 24.5 per game. Joker nearly averaged a triple-double - 18.8 points per game, and tournament bests averages per game of 10.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists. Jokic did lead Serbia to victory in the Third-Place Game over 2023 World Cup winners Germany. He was outstanding at FIBA EuroBasket 2025, too, yet Serbia were upset by Finland in the Round of 16.
In the NBA, Jokic has made a strong claim for a fourth MVP award. Not only has he already locked in, for the second time in his career, a triple double average in scoring, rebounds and assists (he is averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists). He is likely to become the first player to lead the league in rebounds and assists. His field goal percentage is 56.9 percent!
Victor Wembanyama (FRA), San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama's FIBA showcase was the 2024 Olympics, when he made the All-Star Five after a truly spectacular tournament. He was France's leading scorer and rebounder and finished with averages of 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. In a thrilling Gold Medal Game against USA, Wemby had 26 points and 7 boards.
Wemby is a far better player in his third NBA season, when he has helped the Spurs become one of the best teams in the league. The biggest argument for the Frenchman being the MVP? He is elite on both ends of the floor, averaging 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and a league best 3.1 blocks per game. On offense, he is a threat to get to the rim and to also hit 3-pointers (He's making them at a 35 percent clip).
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Slovenia didn't make it to Paris 2024 after falling in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus. Yet Doncic's national team career has plenty of sparkle, from his All-Star Five selection after Slovenia's FIBA EuroBasket 2017 title triumph to his near glorious summer of 2021 when he powered his national team to the OQT title in Kaunas and then to within a made basket of playing in the Tokyo Final. His 47 points against France at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 ranks second all time for most scored in a game. Doncic even had 42 last summer in a Round of 16 win over Italy. He finished EuroBasket 2025 with a tournament best average of 34.7 points per game.
Luka has had an amazing NBA season in 2025-26, and leads the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game. He ranks first in the NBA with 15 games of 40 points or more, and he is also No. 1 with 43 games of 30 points or more. Doncic also understands that "sharing is caring." He is third in the NBA in assists at 8.3 per game. Yet with only 64 games played, a hamstring injury appears to have scuppered his chances of playing in the 65-game minimum needed to qualify for the MVP award.
FIBA