NBA MVP straw poll: The significance of each game for SGA, Jokic, and other top players
Amid the ongoing concerns regarding player injuries and availability in the NBA this season, the frontrunners in the Most Valuable Player race remain unchanged.
For the time being.
In ESPN’s second MVP straw poll for the 2025-26 season — a current overview of the race based on a survey of 100 local, national, and international media members conducted this week — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has expanded his lead over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Gilgeous-Alexander received 78 first-place votes and was the sole player featured on all 100 ballots.
The reigning MVP, who also garnered 20 second-place and two third-place votes, is enjoying another outstanding season, averaging 31.8 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 55.4% from the field for the Thunder, who lead the Western Conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s advantage has increased despite the defending champions experiencing a decline since the initial straw poll was published in mid-December. The Thunder were once on track to achieve over 70 wins, but injuries have tempered their performance; they have recorded a 17-13 record following a remarkable 24-1 start to the season. This includes a recent abdominal injury to Gilgeous-Alexander, who has already missed seven games and will be sidelined for at least a few more, as the team announced Thursday that he will be re-evaluated in a week.
This decline in performance might have opened the door for Gilgeous-Alexander’s closest competitors, but, as has been a recurring theme this season, injuries have significantly altered the awards landscape.
Jokic maintained his second-place position (18 first-place votes), but the bone bruise he sustained in late December, which sidelined him for nearly a month, has evidently hindered his MVP candidacy.
This does not imply that Jokic is out of the running. His statistics — 28.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game while shooting 59% overall, 42% from three-point range, and 84% from the free-throw line — certainly bolster his case, although his margin for error has diminished. If Jokic misses two additional games, he will become ineligible for MVP and all end-of-season awards. This would conclude a streak of five consecutive top-two finishes in MVP voting, just one short of Boston Celtics legends Bill Russell and Larry Bird for the most in history.
Jokic is not alone in the 65-game watch. San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has risen from eighth in December’s poll to fourth with three first-place votes and appeared on 75 ballots. However, Wembanyama has missed 13 games (he is credited for the NBA Cup title game, despite missing 14), meaning he can only miss four more games for the remainder of the season.
In his third season, the French talent has once again excelled, averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.7 blocks per game. If he can maintain his health, and if San Antonio can close the three-game gap currently separating them from OKC for the top spot in the West, Wembanyama could mirror the 2022-23 race, when Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid’s late surge secured him the MVP over Jokic.
Meanwhile, the fifth-place contender in the poll, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, has already been absent for 12 games. Two other players receiving votes — LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (13 missed games) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (10 missed games) — may face jeopardy regarding their eligibility with another injury. Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James have each already fallen below the 65-game threshold. (Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry did not receive any votes in the straw poll and is just two missed games away from losing award eligibility.)
However, the injuries affecting the top candidates have created openings for other players. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, who finished third with one first-place vote, has been instrumental in Detroit’s impressive season, positioning the Pistons at the top of the conference and on track for home-court advantage in the first round for the first time since 2008.
With Jayson Tatum still recovering from the Achilles injury he sustained in last year’s playoffs — although he may be nearing a return — Celtics forward Jaylen Brown has continued his outstanding performance, finishing sixth in the straw poll. Brown’s rise from ninth in December’s poll reflects both his remarkable play and the short-handed Celtics entering the All-Star break in second place in the East.
Completing the ballot were three East All-Stars: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (11 total votes, 27 total points, seventh place), New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (seven total votes, 17 total points, ninth place), and 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (four total votes, 10 total points, tenth place).
