Top 5 First-Time NBA MVP Candidates for 2025/26 Season

NBA fans watched Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ascend to superstardom in 2024/25, and he beat out three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic for the award.

SGA led the Thunder to the NBA's best record (68-14) and won the scoring title with 32.7 points per game. He also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists to 2.4 turnovers, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block while shooting 51.9 percent overall, 37.5 percent from three-point range, and 89.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Now that the Thunder floor general has won his first MVP, he faces the challenge of trying to retain his place at the top of the mountain for a second consecutive season.

Will SGA's win usher in a new era of stars to dominate the MVP race, or will past winners like Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo return to that level?

Here, we'll go through five candidates who could win their first NBA MVP Award in 2025/26.

Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama looked like an MVP contender before deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder ended his season after just 46 games.

The 7-foot-3 Frenchman averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists to 3.2 turnovers, 1.1 steals, and a league-high 3.8 blocks in his sophomore season. He shot 47.6 percent overall, 35.2 percent from three-point range, and 83.6 percent from the free-throw line.

Spurs fans didn't get to see much of him with De'Aaron Fox, the All-Star point guard acquired by San Antonio ahead of the trade deadline. Wemby and Fox should make a lethal pick-and-roll combination, and the Spurs have two lottery picks in the 2025 draft, including the No. 2 selection, which they can either use or trade for another star.

Wembanyama will have a stronger supporting cast than ever in 2025/26. If he can bump up his shooting percentages and lead the Spurs to the playoffs, it won't be surprising if he's at least an MVP finalist.

Anthony Edwards

Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards may reach his best when the lights are brightest in the postseason, but he has finished in the top 10 in NBA MVP voting in both 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The T-Wolves won 56 games in 23/24 and 49 games in 24/25 with Ant as their star player. He shot a career-high 39.5 percent from three in 24/25 while attempting a 10.3 threes per game, another career-high.

The three-time All-Star averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals this past regular season. He had nine games with 40 or more points, including a season-high 53 against the Detroit Pistons.

Edwards can score in bunches, facilitate when needed, and play lock-down defense. He'll still only be 24 years old in the 2025/26 season, meaning his best years are ahead of him. Ant ranked eighth in usage rating this season, so he gets plenty of chances to impact each game, but he'll have to raise his consistency in order to compete with the league's best.

Cade Cunningham

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, despite having been the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, earned Most Improved Player consideration in 2024/25, and for good reason.

In his fourth NBA season, MotorCade had a career-best campaign with 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 46.9 percent overall, 35.6 percent from three, and 84.6 percent from the line.

Most importantly, he was the key factor behind his team going from a league-worst 14-68 record in 23/24 to a 44-38 record - plus a playoff berth - in 24/25.

Cunningham's efficiency was at its best this past season with a 52.1 effective field goal percentage. Like Edwards, he'll be just 24 when the 25/26 season tips off. It's entirely feasible that the Pistons guard, fresh off his first NBA All-Star honor, continues to improve.

Jalen Brunson

Given how much he means to the New York Knicks and how successful they've been since he joined ahead of the 2022/23 season, it's kind of crazy that Jalen Brunson's highest finish in MVP voting was fifth in 23/24.

Brunson earned his second All-Star honor in 24/25, and it was his most efficient season (55.1 EFG%) since joining the Knicks and becoming the No. 1 option.

He also attempted a career-high 6.9 free throws per game, and he reached another career-high with 7.3 assists per contest. He also had 14 double-doubles and scored a season-high 55 points against the Washington Wizards.

Despite all those feats in the 24/25 season, he only received one fifth-place vote for MVP, which saw him finish tied for 10th.

Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic was an MVP finalist for the first time in 2023/24, his final full season with the Dallas Mavericks. Injuries - and then the infamous trade from Dallas to the Los Angeles Lakers - did not allow him to build on that in 24/25.

It may be hard to imagine a teammate of LeBron James ever winning the Most Valuable Player Award, but if anyone is capable of outshining the King to that degree, it's Doncic.

After joining the Lakers in early February, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 37.9 percent from three, which would have been the second-highest mark of his career if sustained for a full season.

Once Lakers coach JJ Redick has James and Doncic together for a full training camp, he'll likely figure out a way for the two ball-dominant stars to create space for each other. GM Rob Pelinka is likely to acquire a rim-running center this offseason, which will be a huge benefit to Doncic in the pick-and-roll game.

A full offseason should help Doncic rest and refine his game entering his eighth NBA season. For his career, he has shot 46.8 percent overall and 35.0 percent from three, so increasing his efficiency will be vital as he chases his first MVP Award.