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

[Exp0sed]

If we're being honest, Jokic is the Most Valuable Player in the league to his team, just like last season. His On/Off Metrics are insane again so far, just like last season. There isn't a single player more valuable to their team's success than this man. I'd put Wemby and Giannis right behind him, then SGA and Luka behind them.

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Yes, Giannis and Luka (and others) are still very much in the race, but ultimately unless Wemby can sustain a certain level all season, the award is likely to go to either Jokic or SGA, with SGA having more team wins - he will get his 2nd

we've been hearing for years from certain posters how Jokic insane on\off are partially a result of the not having a back-up center and the huge drop off in that position. its intresting that now when he has a very capable backup, whose been playing well in his role too - Jokic's on\off is crazy as ever and all those posters are oddly absent or silent

[scrabbarista]

Jokic is fking insane. How is he Even more efficient

Since game 1 his least efficient performance was a 70%ts 10/15 game vs the pelicans. Literally 1 of 1.

I feel.like this is the first season Jokic actually gets the ball when he has deep position\mismatch, more often than not

Not sure if this has to do with Adelman or what and the Nuggets have mostly played some small teams who play a small ball 5 that really has no chance to contain Jokic

His efficency and touch are second to none, he's almost automatic from close ranges (including floaters etc)

If teams are going to keep conceding those shots to Jokic, he can keep shooting 70% from 2 lol

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79%.

[OriAr]

Still early but for now:
1. Jokic
2. Giannis
3. SGA
4. Wemby

Others aren't really close to them; Luka missed too many games for him to be on equal level with the others IMO.

[MMyhre]

If we're being honest, Jokic is the Most Valuable Player in the league to his team, just like last season. His On/Off Metrics are insane again so far, just like last season. There isn't a single player more valuable to their team's success than this man. I'd put Wemby and Giannis right behind him, then SGA and Luka behind them.

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?s=20

It's hard to disagree with that, Jokic is an absolute monster. But I honestly think Giannis is probably more important, because the Nuggets still have a solid team outside of Jokic and while they would likely not be a playoff team I think they'd be fighting for the play in. Whereas Milwaukee isn't that good with Giannis doing his Herculean effort every night and without him they're probably the worst team in the league.

I also like to think about how these teams would look without their best player. Nuggets become play in fodder. Spurs become a lottery team. Bucks are in contention for the #1 pick. But OKC? They probably go from a 65 win team to a 50 win team. Lakers with healthy LeBron and Reaves are still a playoff team without Luka.

That would still be the case if you put every MVP candidate on OKC though, you just have to look at what they are doing with what they have. The OKC offense drops by -14.8 when Shai sits, Jokic has -17 for comparison. He is very much the main driving force behind how far OKC will go this year, again. They have just have an insane defense that can carry things even if the offense stagnates a bit, and Ajay Mitchell has given OKC a better secondary ball handler to alleviate pressure off Shai, yet the offense is still -14.8 worse without him...

I also think you are overrating the Nuggets cast a bit & underrating the Spurs cast. Castle, Fox, Johnson, Barnes, Kornet & Harper are all going to be positive contributors this season. If they ended up in the lottery that would be more on the fact that the team composition is bad, than the fact that they don't have winning players.

We also don't know if OKC would win 50+ games as Chet and Jalen has not really shown themselves to be capable of volume production as first options & don't really have the games for being the 1st option yet. Chet is also still a bit inconsistent & injury prone (has some back stuff going on now) & Jalen Williams has not played this season yet Shai is carrying them to 10-1 and they should have been 11-0 if not for a choke.

We also don't know if LeBron and Reaves make the playoffs, LeBron showed signs of struggle last year and has an old man injury this season, Reaves has looked better but I still remember the Wolves series etc.

[MMyhre]

If we're being honest, Jokic is the Most Valuable Player in the league to his team, just like last season. His On/Off Metrics are insane again so far, just like last season. There isn't a single player more valuable to their team's success than this man. I'd put Wemby and Giannis right behind him, then SGA and Luka behind them.

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?s=20

It's hard to disagree with that, Jokic is an absolute monster. But I honestly think Giannis is probably more important, because the Nuggets still have a solid team outside of Jokic and while they would likely not be a playoff team I think they'd be fighting for the play in. Whereas Milwaukee isn't that good with Giannis doing his Herculean effort every night and without him they're probably the worst team in the league.

I also like to think about how these teams would look without their best player. Nuggets become play in fodder. Spurs become a lottery team. Bucks are in contention for the #1 pick. But OKC? They probably go from a 65 win team to a 50 win team. Lakers with healthy LeBron and Reaves are still a playoff team without Luka.

It’s harder to lift a good team than it is to lift a bad team both because you’re having to exceed the quality of a better player and because there’s less room to possibly improve.

Bucks are -10.2 with Giannis on the bench and +9.2 with him on the floor. That’s very difficult but it’s been done many times.

Nuggets are +0.2 with Jokic on the bench and +18.7 with him on the floor. That’s a better point differential than any team has EVER had with their star. He’s basically turning an average team into the best team ever.

And he’s doing it by having the most effect volume scoring season ever while also averaging an assist and a half more per game than anyone else in the league.

Joker’s a marvel. Every time you think he can’t get better he does. Bro might still have the potential to become the GOAT.

Michael Jordan doesn't lose three times in a row to the Wolves, OKC & **** Finland.
Let's wait until Jokic plays better teams again to see how he does when it gets hot in the kitchen.

[TinmanZBoy]

This thread should be renamed as “the annual Nikola Jokic thread”…Joker somehow can still improves his stats year by year since his first MVP year

[TinmanZBoy]

It's hard to disagree with that, Jokic is an absolute monster. But I honestly think Giannis is probably more important, because the Nuggets still have a solid team outside of Jokic and while they would likely not be a playoff team I think they'd be fighting for the play in. Whereas Milwaukee isn't that good with Giannis doing his Herculean effort every night and without him they're probably the worst team in the league.

I also like to think about how these teams would look without their best player. Nuggets become play in fodder. Spurs become a lottery team. Bucks are in contention for the #1 pick. But OKC? They probably go from a 65 win team to a 50 win team. Lakers with healthy LeBron and Reaves are still a playoff team without Luka.

It’s harder to lift a good team than it is to lift a bad team both because you’re having to exceed the quality of a better player and because there’s less room to possibly improve.

Bucks are -10.2 with Giannis on the bench and +9.2 with him on the floor. That’s very difficult but it’s been done many times.

Nuggets are +0.2 with Jokic on the bench and +18.7 with him on the floor. That’s a better point differential than any team has EVER had with their star. He’s basically turning an average team into the best team ever.

And he’s doing it by having the most effect volume scoring season ever while also averaging an assist and a half more per game than anyone else in the league.

Joker’s a marvel. Every time you think he can’t get better he does. Bro might still have the potential to become the GOAT.

Michael Jordan doesn't lose three times in a row to the Wolves, OKC & **** Finland.
Let's wait until Jokic plays better teams again to see how he does when it gets hot in the kitchen.

Look deeper at MJ years without Pippen

[iggymcfrack]

It's hard to disagree with that, Jokic is an absolute monster. But I honestly think Giannis is probably more important, because the Nuggets still have a solid team outside of Jokic and while they would likely not be a playoff team I think they'd be fighting for the play in. Whereas Milwaukee isn't that good with Giannis doing his Herculean effort every night and without him they're probably the worst team in the league.

I also like to think about how these teams would look without their best player. Nuggets become play in fodder. Spurs become a lottery team. Bucks are in contention for the #1 pick. But OKC? They probably go from a 65 win team to a 50 win team. Lakers with healthy LeBron and Reaves are still a playoff team without Luka.

It’s harder to lift a good team than it is to lift a bad team both because you’re having to exceed the quality of a better player and because there’s less room to possibly improve.

Bucks are -10.2 with Giannis on the bench and +9.2 with him on the floor. That’s very difficult but it’s been done many times.

Nuggets are +0.2 with Jokic on the bench and +18.7 with him on the floor. That’s a better point differential than any team has EVER had with their star. He’s basically turning an average team into the best team ever.

And he’s doing it by having the most effect volume scoring season ever while also averaging an assist and a half more per game than anyone else in the league.

Joker’s a marvel. Every time you think he can’t get better he does. Bro might still have the potential to become the GOAT.

Michael Jordan doesn't lose three times in a row to the Wolves, OKC & **** Finland.
Let's wait until Jokic plays better teams again to see how he does when it gets hot in the kitchen.

No he lost three times in a row to the Pistons in his absolute prime whose only “star” was a guard who couldn’t shoot. Any of those Pistons teams only get a game off of last year’s Thunder if OKC gets complacent for a game up 2-0 or 3-0.

[MMyhre]

It’s harder to lift a good team than it is to lift a bad team both because you’re having to exceed the quality of a better player and because there’s less room to possibly improve.

Bucks are -10.2 with Giannis on the bench and +9.2 with him on the floor. That’s very difficult but it’s been done many times.

Nuggets are +0.2 with Jokic on the bench and +18.7 with him on the floor. That’s a better point differential than any team has EVER had with their star. He’s basically turning an average team into the best team ever.

And he’s doing it by having the most effect volume scoring season ever while also averaging an assist and a half more per game than anyone else in the league.

Joker’s a marvel. Every time you think he can’t get better he does. Bro might still have the potential to become the GOAT.

Michael Jordan doesn't lose three times in a row to the Wolves, OKC & **** Finland.
Let's wait until Jokic plays better teams again to see how he does when it gets hot in the kitchen.

No he lost three times in a row to the Pistons in his absolute prime whose only “star” was a guard who couldn’t shoot. Any of those Pistons teams only get a game off of last year’s Thunder if OKC gets complacent for a game up 2-0 or 3-0.

Lol, that Pistons team was back2back NBA champions and one of the best defensive teams of all time, with three Hall of Famers, Mark Aguirre and decent role players, and he eventually beat them when he got into his peak years, stop lying about that being Jordans absolute prime. He only lost to them in 7 in the last year, averaging 32.1 pts on 56.6 ts %, 7.1 reb, 6.3 ast, 2.1 stl, 0.6 blk with two players above 10 points, second best being Pippen at 16.6 pts on 52 ts %.

But yeah, keep comparing back2back NBA champions to the 56 win Wolves with a still far from prime Edwards and Finland with a poor Lauri Markkanen in that game as well.

What do you even mean by only "star"? You know they won two championships in a row right? In the era of Bird, Magic & Jordan? But since they didn't have a superstar they were bad? What is this logic? I don't even think Isiah Thomas was neccessarily the most important player on those teams, as defense was the main driving force, but teams can be good without superstars, and defensive stars like Rodman exist as well.

[Exp0sed]

Since game 1 his least efficient performance was a 70%ts 10/15 game vs the pelicans. Literally 1 of 1.

I feel.like this is the first season Jokic actually gets the ball when he has deep position\mismatch, more often than not

Not sure if this has to do with Adelman or what and the Nuggets have mostly played some small teams who play a small ball 5 that really has no chance to contain Jokic

His efficency and touch are second to none, he's almost automatic from close ranges (including floaters etc)

If teams are going to keep conceding those shots to Jokic, he can keep shooting 70% from 2 lol

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79%.

yeah, I meant: 79% is unsustainable but 70%..who knows? it's not outside the realm of possibility, ya never know with the original joker

[frica]

It's only 10 games so small sample size, but if not for Jokic then SGA would have the highest WS/48 ever this season.
As it stands, SGA is nowhere near.

[MaliBrah]

Shai and Jokic are tied on expected EPM with 8.4 with Giannis not too far behind at 7.8. SGA has the slight lead on actual EPM over Jokic at 8.6 to 8.3 and no one else comes close to them there.

EDIT: OUT OF DATE SORRY

[Whopper_Sr]

Shai and Jokic are tied on expected EPM with 8.4 with Giannis not too far behind at 7.8. SGA has the slight lead on actual EPM over Jokic at 8.6 to 8.3 and no one else comes close to them there.

Those are from last season. This season's EPM isn't up yet. At least I'm not seeing it.

[MaliBrah]

Shai and Jokic are tied on expected EPM with 8.4 with Giannis not too far behind at 7.8. SGA has the slight lead on actual EPM over Jokic at 8.6 to 8.3 and no one else comes close to them there.

Those are from last season. This season's EPM isn't up yet. At least I'm not seeing it.

great catch

[Whopper_Sr]

Shai and Jokic are tied on expected EPM with 8.4 with Giannis not too far behind at 7.8. SGA has the slight lead on actual EPM over Jokic at 8.6 to 8.3 and no one else comes close to them there.

Those are from last season. This season's EPM isn't up yet. At least I'm not seeing it.

great catch

I expect Jokic and SGA to be top 2 once again with clear separation from the rest.

[iggymcfrack]

Michael Jordan doesn't lose three times in a row to the Wolves, OKC & **** Finland.
Let's wait until Jokic plays better teams again to see how he does when it gets hot in the kitchen.

No he lost three times in a row to the Pistons in his absolute prime whose only “star” was a guard who couldn’t shoot. Any of those Pistons teams only get a game off of last year’s Thunder if OKC gets complacent for a game up 2-0 or 3-0.

Lol, that Pistons team was back2back NBA champions and one of the best defensive teams of all time, with three Hall of Famers, Mark Aguirre and decent role players, and he eventually beat them when he got into his peak years, stop lying about that being Jordans absolute prime. He only lost to them in 7 in the last year, averaging 32.1 pts on 56.6 ts %, 7.1 reb, 6.3 ast, 2.1 stl, 0.6 blk with two players above 10 points, second best being Pippen at 16.6 pts on 52 ts %.

But yeah, keep comparing back2back NBA champions to the 56 win Wolves with a still far from prime Edwards and Finland with a poor Lauri Markkanen in that game as well.

What do you even mean by only "star"? You know they won two championships in a row right? In the era of Bird, Magic & Jordan? But since they didn't have a superstar they were bad? What is this logic? I don't even think Isiah Thomas was neccessarily the most important player on those teams, as defense was the main driving force, but teams can be good without superstars, and defensive stars like Rodman exist as well.

There was a lot less talent in the league then since the international explosion hadn't happened yet. Even relative to the league, here's how the Pistons looked the 3 years before Jordan's peak season:

1988: +5.5 SRS (beat Bulls 4-1)
1989: +6.2 SRS (beat Bulls 4-2)
1990: +5.4 SRS (beat Bulls 4-3)

Now if we're going on the premise that what Jokic is doing so far this year might be somewhat sustainable, then this is his best season right now comparable to Jordan in '91. Here's how Jokic did the last 3 years:

2023: Won title going 16-4 in the playoffs
2024: Lost to +6.4 SRS Wolves 4-3
2025: Lost to +12.7 SRS Thunder 4-3

So the Nuggets performed much better in the playoffs the 3 years before Jokic's peak season than the Bulls did the 3 seasons before Jordan's best season. I don't see why it's so unthinkable that he might have GOAT potential putting up numbers that have never been touched in the history of basketball and leading his team to the best net rating of all time when he's on the floor.

[AleksandarN]

Absolutely ridiculous

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[GeorgeSears]

Jokic raises the MVP standard every year. Players must have their greatest ever seasons to take the award away from him.

[Wolfgang630]

Jokic raises the MVP standard every year. Players must have their greatest ever seasons to take the award away from him.

Yep

[Mavrelous]

This is SGA right now, anyone saying anytjing else are kidding themselves...