Who do you think wins MVP this season? (2025-26 NBA MVP Discussion Thread)

[Snake3]

By this logic a guy like Michael Jordan, who won 4 of his 5 MVPs on 60 and 70 win teams, would also have no argument against Jokic because his Bulls team actually did win 50 plus games without him. And yet the difference between being the greatest dynasty of the 90s and just another contender was MJ. That's INSANELY valuable.

This idea that floor raising a bad team is intrinsically more valuable than ceiling raising a good team is false.

Yeah, I agree. But I do get the other side.

Like with the 06 situation with Kobe dragging that team to the playoffs, I believe he should've gotten the MVP over Steve Nash in 06. I do get the reason why Nash won the reward. Still getting 50+ wins even with Amare hurt. But Kobe was doing incredible things, and had guys who would be out of the league in 2 years on the team. Like Smush Parker was starting.

Although Jokic and SGA ain't as crazy as that. Both guys are incredible and worthy of the award. It'll be a repeat of last year on steroids. I predict that if it's close within team wins, it'll likely go to Jokic. If it isn't or if OKC breaks 70+ wins, it'll go to Shai.

[AleksandarN]

What if OKC gets 70 plus wins but loses at least 3 games to a 60 win Nuggets team with Jokic being the best player in the regular season. I would happen to think Jokic gets MVP

[Snake3]

What if OKC gets 70 plus wins but loses at least 3 games to a 60 win Nuggets team with Jokic being the best player in the regular season. I would happen to think Jokic gets MVP

It could mean SGA may not win MVP unanimously.

But only one player won mvp unanimously. That's Curry 16. Shaq didn't do it. LeBron. MJ didn't even do it when the bulls had 72.

[kazyv]

What if OKC gets 70 plus wins but loses at least 3 games to a 60 win Nuggets team with Jokic being the best player in the regular season. I would happen to think Jokic gets MVP

It could mean SGA may not win MVP unanimously.

But only one player won mvp unanimously. That's Curry 16. Shaq didn't do it. LeBron. MJ didn't even do it when the bulls had 72.

stop it. SGA isn't winning MVP if he loses all 3 games to denver. at that point his team record is almost invalidated when it comes to deciding the MVP vs Jokic.

but there's no reason to assume that the OKC/DEN season series will ever be a sweep and a 2/1,1/2 either way will probably not move the needle

[Andri]

I get that we do this for fun, and we amuse ourselves discussing about it. But as everyseason, how things look in November and how they will look like in April usually change, a lot.

So let's keep discussing but not get to invested!

[MoneyTalks41890]

I would sum this up as Jokic is having an all time great season.

Shai is also having an all time great season, but on advanced and counting stats, at least offensively, it doesn’t reach the level of Jokic’s.

But no one else is currently in their stratosphere on those metrics. Giannis is the closest, but he won’t have enough wins or play enough games.

It’s early in the season, but it’s a two person race. Which has been the case since the first few games.

[MMyhre]

By this logic a guy like Michael Jordan, who won 4 of his 5 MVPs on 60 and 70 win teams, would also have no argument against Jokic because his Bulls team actually did win 50 plus games without him. And yet the difference between being the greatest dynasty of the 90s and just another contender was MJ. That's INSANELY valuable.

This idea that floor raising a bad team is intrinsically more valuable than ceiling raising a good team is false.

Yeah, I agree. But I do get the other side.

Like with the 06 situation with Kobe dragging that team to the playoffs, I believe he should've gotten the MVP over Steve Nash in 06. I do get the reason why Nash won the reward. Still getting 50+ wins even with Amare hurt. But Kobe was doing incredible things, and had guys who would be out of the league in 2 years on the team. Like Smush Parker was starting.

Although Jokic and SGA ain't as crazy as that. Both guys are incredible and worthy of the award. It'll be a repeat of last year on steroids. I predict that if it's close within team wins, it'll likely go to Jokic. If it isn't or if OKC breaks 70+ wins, it'll go to Shai.

Per 36 minutes played:
05/06 Kobe Bryant 31.1 pts on 55.9 ts %, 4 ast/2.7 to, 4.7 reb/0.8 oreb, 1.6 stl, 0.3 blk.
25-26 SGA 35.3 pts on 67.5 ts %, 7.1 ast/1.9 to, 5.4 reb/0.6 oreb, 1.7 stl, 0.9 blk.
25-26 Jokic 30.6 pts on 72.9 ts %, 11.4 ast/3.6 to, 13.3 reb/3.4 oreb, 1.6 stl, 0.8 blk.

BPM
1 Jokic 18.2
2 Shai 14
3 Kobe 7.6
WS/48
1 Jokic 41.3 %
2 Shai 39.6 %
3 Kobe 22.4 %
PER
1 Jokic 36.7
2 Shai 34
3 Kobe 28

Even accounting for worse teammates, 05/06 Kobe does not belong in this conversation imo.

[Optms]

Funny that Shai isn't even trying to win the MVP. He's still ahead while in coast mode. This man has taken everything from the Joker. He's basically Batman.

[Andri]

Funny that Shai isn't even trying to win the MVP. He's still ahead while in coast mode. This man has taken everything from the Joker. He's basically Batman.

IMO you are trying too hard, relax, there is still plenty of season

[Johnny Firpo]

Funny that Shai isn't even trying to win the MVP. He's still ahead while in coast mode. This man has taken everything from the Joker. He's basically Batman.

IMO you are trying too hard, relax, there is still plenty of season

Way too hard, yeah. Jokic is a 3-time MVP and a champion, he's gonna be fine.

[lethalizer]

Hopefully this'll become a one man race soon enough with Jalen Williams returning and Shai not having to do a lot of carrying on offense.

(Yes, I'm not a big fan of the award when the star of my team is a nominee)

[AleksandarN]

I get that we do this for fun, and we amuse ourselves discussing about it. But as everyseason, how things look in November and how they will look like in April usually change, a lot.

So let's keep discussing but not get to invested!

[Snake3]

By this logic a guy like Michael Jordan, who won 4 of his 5 MVPs on 60 and 70 win teams, would also have no argument against Jokic because his Bulls team actually did win 50 plus games without him. And yet the difference between being the greatest dynasty of the 90s and just another contender was MJ. That's INSANELY valuable.

This idea that floor raising a bad team is intrinsically more valuable than ceiling raising a good team is false.

Yeah, I agree. But I do get the other side.

Like with the 06 situation with Kobe dragging that team to the playoffs, I believe he should've gotten the MVP over Steve Nash in 06. I do get the reason why Nash won the reward. Still getting 50+ wins even with Amare hurt. But Kobe was doing incredible things, and had guys who would be out of the league in 2 years on the team. Like Smush Parker was starting.

Although Jokic and SGA ain't as crazy as that. Both guys are incredible and worthy of the award. It'll be a repeat of last year on steroids. I predict that if it's close within team wins, it'll likely go to Jokic. If it isn't or if OKC breaks 70+ wins, it'll go to Shai.

Per 36 minutes played:
05/06 Kobe Bryant 31.1 pts on 55.9 ts %, 4 ast/2.7 to, 4.7 reb/0.8 oreb, 1.6 stl, 0.3 blk.
25-26 SGA 35.3 pts on 67.5 ts %, 7.1 ast/1.9 to, 5.4 reb/0.6 oreb, 1.7 stl, 0.9 blk.
25-26 Jokic 30.6 pts on 72.9 ts %, 11.4 ast/3.6 to, 13.3 reb/3.4 oreb, 1.6 stl, 0.8 blk.

BPM
1 Jokic 18.2
2 Shai 14
3 Kobe 7.6
WS/48
1 Jokic 41.3 %
2 Shai 39.6 %
3 Kobe 22.4 %
PER
1 Jokic 36.7
2 Shai 34
3 Kobe 28

Even accounting for worse teammates, 05/06 Kobe does not belong in this conversation imo.

I'm not comparing Kobe to Jokic/SGA in terms of stats. I'm comparing the situation of Kobe/Nash to Jokic/SGA in terms of MVP situations and narratives. Especially last year.

And even your comparison of stats, I would say it's better to do relative to the era than to compare them directly like that. Different defenses, spacing, pacing, offense, and rules.

[Snake3]

What if OKC gets 70 plus wins but loses at least 3 games to a 60 win Nuggets team with Jokic being the best player in the regular season. I would happen to think Jokic gets MVP

It could mean SGA may not win MVP unanimously.

But only one player won mvp unanimously. That's Curry 16. Shaq didn't do it. LeBron. MJ didn't even do it when the bulls had 72.

stop it. SGA isn't winning MVP if he loses all 3 games to denver. at that point his team record is almost invalidated when it comes to deciding the MVP vs Jokic.

but there's no reason to assume that the OKC/DEN season series will ever be a sweep and a 2/1,1/2 either way will probably not move the needle

Naaw, I doubt it. You think the majority of the voters would give it to Jokic over SGA instead of just saying it's a bad matchup for OKC? Every voter will have their own reason for how they are going to vote. So there will be ppl are similar to you who wouldn't give it to SGA because he got swept by Denver. But if one person is on a team that got 60 wins and the other is on a team that got 70 plus wins, I find it difficult to believe the majority will give it Jokic even if his numbers are better and/or if he's a better player.

It reminds me of when Rockets constantly beat the Bulls in the early 90s. MJ still won MVP in '91 and 92. But the Rockets could've been a bad matchup for the Bulls. Hakeem was a bad dude.

[kazyv]

It could mean SGA may not win MVP unanimously.

But only one player won mvp unanimously. That's Curry 16. Shaq didn't do it. LeBron. MJ didn't even do it when the bulls had 72.

stop it. SGA isn't winning MVP if he loses all 3 games to denver. at that point his team record is almost invalidated when it comes to deciding the MVP vs Jokic.

but there's no reason to assume that the OKC/DEN season series will ever be a sweep and a 2/1,1/2 either way will probably not move the needle

Naaw, I doubt it. You think the majority of the voters would give it to Jokic over SGA instead of just saying it's a bad matchup for OKC? Every voter will have their own reason for how they are going to vote. So there will be ppl are similar to you who wouldn't give it to SGA because he got swept by Denver. But if one person is on a team that got 60 wins and the other is on a team that got 70 plus wins, I find it difficult to believe the majority will give it Jokic even if his numbers are better and/or if he's a better player.

It reminds me of when Rockets constantly beat the Bulls in the early 90s. MJ still won MVP in '91 and 92. But the Rockets could've been a bad matchup for the Bulls. Hakeem was a bad dude.

not as a general rule, but here? with an extremely tight MVP race between very very different playertypes? and when winning % is a major factor? It just wouldn't fly to say that one guy contributes more to winning if he can't win against the other guy.

[MMyhre]

Yeah, I agree. But I do get the other side.

Like with the 06 situation with Kobe dragging that team to the playoffs, I believe he should've gotten the MVP over Steve Nash in 06. I do get the reason why Nash won the reward. Still getting 50+ wins even with Amare hurt. But Kobe was doing incredible things, and had guys who would be out of the league in 2 years on the team. Like Smush Parker was starting.

Although Jokic and SGA ain't as crazy as that. Both guys are incredible and worthy of the award. It'll be a repeat of last year on steroids. I predict that if it's close within team wins, it'll likely go to Jokic. If it isn't or if OKC breaks 70+ wins, it'll go to Shai.

Per 36 minutes played:
05/06 Kobe Bryant 31.1 pts on 55.9 ts %, 4 ast/2.7 to, 4.7 reb/0.8 oreb, 1.6 stl, 0.3 blk.
25-26 SGA 35.3 pts on 67.5 ts %, 7.1 ast/1.9 to, 5.4 reb/0.6 oreb, 1.7 stl, 0.9 blk.
25-26 Jokic 30.6 pts on 72.9 ts %, 11.4 ast/3.6 to, 13.3 reb/3.4 oreb, 1.6 stl, 0.8 blk.

BPM
1 Jokic 18.2
2 Shai 14
3 Kobe 7.6
WS/48
1 Jokic 41.3 %
2 Shai 39.6 %
3 Kobe 22.4 %
PER
1 Jokic 36.7
2 Shai 34
3 Kobe 28

Even accounting for worse teammates, 05/06 Kobe does not belong in this conversation imo.

I'm not comparing Kobe to Jokic/SGA in terms of stats. I'm comparing the situation of Kobe/Nash to Jokic/SGA in terms of MVP situations and narratives. Especially last year.

And even your comparison of stats, I would say it's better to do relative to the era than to compare them directly like that. Different defenses, spacing, pacing, offense, and rules.

With people more focused on packing the paint with slower big men, a great shooter would have more space to operate on the outside.
Different rules? Is this 1960?
Kobe just didn't perform as well as Jokic or Shai has this season, the difference is way too big to say "it was a different era". Okay, that still didn't stop peak Michael Jordan from being above 60 % ts four times on crazy volume with a game reliant on 2 pointers in an even more clogged era.

I am saying the situation is not the same, as Jokic is way better than Kobe was, who was overhyped that season.

[Homer38]

Read on Twitter

[falcolombardi]

I would sum this up as Jokic is having an all time great season.

Shai is also having an all time great season, but on advanced and counting stats, at least offensively, it doesn’t reach the level of Jokic’s.

But no one else is currently in their stratosphere on those metrics. Giannis is the closest, but he won’t have enough wins or play enough games.

It’s early in the season, but it’s a two person race. Which has been the case since the first few games.

That is not quite true, advanced stats is precisely where shai is ahead of jokic since last year (not by much)

[Castle Black]

Reminder that Cade just turned 24. He's likely still 2-3 years away from his prime.

Read on Twitter

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[Snake3]

stop it. SGA isn't winning MVP if he loses all 3 games to denver. at that point his team record is almost invalidated when it comes to deciding the MVP vs Jokic.

but there's no reason to assume that the OKC/
DEN season series will ever be a sweep and a 2/1,1/2 either way will probably not move the needle

Naaw, I doubt it. You think the majority of the voters would give it to Jokic over SGA instead of just saying it's a bad matchup for OKC? Every voter will have their own reason for how they are going to vote. So there will be ppl are similar to you who wouldn't give it to SGA because he got swept by Denver. But if one person is on a team that got 60 wins and the other is on a team that got 70 plus wins, I find it difficult to believe the majority will give it Jokic even if his numbers are better and/or if he's a better player.

It reminds me of when Rockets constantly beat the Bulls in the early 90s. MJ still won MVP in '91 and 92. But the Rockets could've been a bad matchup for the Bulls. Hakeem was a bad dude.

not as a general rule, but here? with an extremely tight MVP race between very very different playertypes? and when winning % is a major factor? It just wouldn't fly to say that one guy contributes more to winning if he can't win against the other guy.

Like I said, everyone has their own criteria of who gets the mvp. Like Kendrick Perkins got a vote. He voted for SGA in 2024 too even though the Nuggets and OKC had the same record. Did Jokic add more to winning than SGA did in 2024? Jokic had all the advance stats to his favor, but idk if Denver had a less talented team than OKC that season. But either way, I doubt Perkins cared that much about advance stats.

You always going to have ppl with different criteria for mvp. Your argument for your decision is going to be different from another guy. But the guy with vote matters. And if OKC gets 70+ wins, I really do think sga is gonna win that MVP unless Denver keeps it close. I don’t really think if OKC loses to Denver every time they face them, it would be enough to swing to Jokic way if they don’t have enough wins.