Injuries will remain as one of the (unfortunately) memorable memories of this first part of the 2025/26 season. The NBA may claim not to see any significant change, nor any link with a dense and sometimes disjointed schedule, its stars have regularly squatted in the franchises’ infirmaries. And this theme will certainly come back with more force when honoring the best individuals of this exercise.
Mid-season, some possible contenders for the MVP title are already out of the running, due to the rule requiring them to have played 65 games in the season to be eligible for individual awards.
In this little game, Nikola Jokic et Victor Wembanyama are among the main players in danger. The Nuggets pivot makes an excellent candidate to be player of the season, with a triple-double average and nearly 30 points scored per game within one of the best teams in the league (3rd in the West, 4th total record with 31 wins and 15 losses). But his hyperextension of the ligaments in his left knee has already caused him to miss 14 games. He only has three “jokers” left to hope for a fourth title. And the Serbian’s return remains unclear, although it was hoped for this week, or next week. This second option would mean drawing a line under the MVP, while Denver must play three more times between now and Saturday…
Jokic – “Wemby”, same fight
Victor Wembanyama doesn’t quite play in the same statistical spheres as Nikola Jokic, but his impact on Spurs’ very good season is obvious. The French interior is doing better after several small physical glitches, and is now finding playing time above 30 minutes. But San Antonio continues to walk on eggshells with its jewel, between the necessary presence on the floor and the desire to protect it for the high-stakes meetings of the season. Like Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama only has three games left before he is no longer in contention for the end of season trophies.
This rule will quickly exclude Giannis Antetokounmpo of the ballot and could also be expensive for Anthony Edwards (seven matches remaining), or even Luka Doncic. The Slovenian has so far acted as the third thief in the race for the MVP and accelerated further in January with 34.2 points (at 49.1% shooting including 38.6% at 3-points), 9 assists and 7.1 rebounds on average. Monstrous, he is as accustomed to heatstroke as to visits to treatment. If he has more margin than Nikola Jokic or Victor Wembanyama with “only” eight missed matches, the Los Angeles maestro already has a mattress reduced by half.
Luka Doncic is the others however remain more or less long distance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderstill favorite in his own succession after around forty contested matches. The Oklahoma City leader has not given up, as evidenced by his outings at 39, 40 and 47 points over the last ten days. And the Canadian remains a model of consistency and durability, with 45 games played out of the 47 contested by the Thunder. “SGA” has one hand on the trophy, especially if Jokic and “Wemby” were to still be absent by the end of the regular season.
More than his impeccable individual performances, he will especially have to be wary of the form of his team. OKC is no longer irresistible like at the start of the season. Worse, the outgoing champion is losing more and more frequently with three losses in the last five matches. The Thunder still have to see the lead of the West coming (5.5 games ahead of the Spurs and the Nuggets), but watch out for the Pistons, who only have one more defeat on the clock: 37-10 against 33-11 for Detroit.
A winning percentage that would slowly but surely decrease could end up being taken into account in the minds of voters, especially after the historic foundations on which Oklahoma City was launched.
This could also allow Cade Cunningham to rise in the votes. The Pistons leader is not experiencing his most spectacular period of the season: 16.6 points on 37.8% shooting in his last five games. If his wrist injury that has left him on the sidelines three times in 20 days heals as the Michigan franchise hopes, he could become one of the outsiders in this MVP race. Provided that the starter for the next All-Star Game remains healthy, and that the Pistons maintain this dynamic which would offer them one of the best regular seasons in their history.
OUR TOP 5 IN THE RACE FOR THE 2025/26 MVP
1 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
Results: 37 victories, 10 defeats – 1st in the West.
Stats : 32.1 pts, 4.4 reb, 6.2 pads, 1.3 int, 0.8 ctr et 2.0 pdb en 33,4 min.
Percentages: 55.9% on shots, including 39.4% on 3-pointers, and 89.2% on throws.
2 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Results: 31 victories, 15 defeats – 3rd in the West.
Stats : 29.6 pts, 12.2 reb, 11.0 pads, 1.4 int, 0.8 ctr et 3.5 pdb en 34,6 min.
Percentages: 60.5% on shots, including 43.5% on 3-pointers, and 85.3% on throws.
3 – Luka Doncic (Lakers)
Results: 28 victories, 17 defeats – 5th in the West.
Stats : 33.8 pts, 7.8 reb, 8.8 pads, 1.5 int, 0.5 ctr et 4.3 pdb en 36,5 min.
Percentages: 47.1% on shots, including 34.3% on 3-pointers, and 78.7% on throws.
4 – Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
Results: 31 victories, 15 defeats – 2nd in the West.
Stats : 24.2 pts, 11.1 reb, 2.8 pads, 0.8 int, 2.7 ctr et 2.7 pdb en 28,9 min.
Percentages: 50.6% on shots, including 37.7% on 3-pointers, and 83.2% on throws.
5 – Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
Results: 33 victories, 11 defeats – 1st in the East.
Stats : 25.4 pts, 5.8 reb, 9.7 pads, 1.5 int, 0.8 ctr et 3.9 pdb en 35,4 min.
Percentages: 45.5% on shots, including 32.7% on 3-pointers, and 82% on throws.
