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

[Bob8]

Because who needs stats on efficiency, turnovers, availability, wins?

Sure let's not talking about the 3 ppg more, about 4 rpg more and 2.5 apg and the steals. That's probably at least 15 point more generated. But sure let's talk about that one turnover because that's the real difference. lol.

I’m thinking more:

54 v 47 FG%
41 v 33 3P%
90 v 79 FT %
1.8 v 4.2 turnovers (sure, ‘one turnover).
33 vs 37mpg
Oh and 17 wins v 10 wins.

Comparing FG% between a player, who’s shooting 11 3s and a player who’s shooting 5 3s is a bit odd, don’t you think? Why don’t we rather use TS% for efficiency? It’s 61.6 vs. 67.1. Shai still better but data more realistic.

About Tov, Luka is a classic Pg, while Shai is nearer to Sg. Luka has a ball more in his hands. Even Magic was averaging around 4 turnovers. I hope you don’t imply Shai is a better Pg than Magic.

[_NoMas]

Sure let's not talking about the 3 ppg more, about 4 rpg more and 2.5 apg and the steals. That's probably at least 15 point more generated. But sure let's talk about that one turnover because that's the real difference. lol.

I’m thinking more:

54 v 47 FG%
41 v 33 3P%
90 v 79 FT %
1.8 v 4.2 turnovers (sure, ‘one turnover).
33 vs 37mpg
Oh and 17 wins v 10 wins.

Comparing FG% between a player, who’s shooting 11 3s and a player who’s shooting 5 3s is a bit odd, don’t you think? Why don’t we rather use TS% for efficiency? It’s 61.6 vs. 67.1. Shai still better but data more realistic.

About Tov, Luka is a classic Pg, while Shai is nearer to Sg. Luka has a ball more in his hands. Even Magic was averaging around 4 turnovers. I hope you don’t imply Shai is a better Pg than Magic.

So still a significantly more efficient player?

[Bob8]

I’m thinking more:

54 v 47 FG%
41 v 33 3P%
90 v 79 FT %
1.8 v 4.2 turnovers (sure, ‘one turnover).
33 vs 37mpg
Oh and 17 wins v 10 wins.

Comparing FG% between a player, who’s shooting 11 3s and a player who’s shooting 5 3s is a bit odd, don’t you think? Why don’t we rather use TS% for efficiency? It’s 61.6 vs. 67.1. Shai still better but data more realistic.

About Tov, Luka is a classic Pg, while Shai is nearer to Sg. Luka has a ball more in his hands. Even Magic was averaging around 4 turnovers. I hope you don’t imply Shai is a better Pg than Magic.

So still a significantly more efficient player?

Yes significantly more efficient player, while being significantly less productive player.

[ball_takes23]

Luka 35.2 ppg / 8.8 rpg / 9.2 apg / 1.9 spg
SGA 32.2 ppg / 4.9 rpg / 6.6 apg / 1.5 spg

Luka is clearly ahead by now.

Because who needs stats on efficiency, turnovers, availability, wins?

And it looks nobody needs rebounds, assists and steals. I have nothing against Shai being in front, but man, talking about difference in turnovers, while they play totally different game is laughable. Interesting enough nobody is mentioning rebounding, where difference is huge.
?

Luka stat pads more rebounds because he has no interest in playing defense or doing anything that doesn’t involve him having the ball in his hands. Similar to Westbrook he just sees rebounds as a way to get the ball in his hands faster. I will take the guy who actually puts in effort on the defensive end and gives 5 rebounds over the guy who gives next to no effort and gives you 9.

[hagredionis]

I’m thinking more:

54 v 47 FG%
41 v 33 3P%
90 v 79 FT %
1.8 v 4.2 turnovers (sure, ‘one turnover).
33 vs 37mpg
Oh and 17 wins v 10 wins.

Comparing FG% between a player, who’s shooting 11 3s and a player who’s shooting 5 3s is a bit odd, don’t you think? Why don’t we rather use TS% for efficiency? It’s 61.6 vs. 67.1. Shai still better but data more realistic.

About Tov, Luka is a classic Pg, while Shai is nearer to Sg. Luka has a ball more in his hands. Even Magic was averaging around 4 turnovers. I hope you don’t imply Shai is a better Pg than Magic.

So still a significantly more efficient player?

Luka's 2P% is actually better, the difference is the 3P% but that's sort of normal because of the volume and % goes down with volume. SGA plays on a stacked team and doesn't need to take as many 3Points as Luka.

[hagredionis]

Luka stat pads more rebounds because he has no interest in playing defense or doing anything that doesn’t involve him having the ball in his hands. Similar to Westbrook he just sees rebounds as a way to get the ball in his hands faster. I will take the guy who actually puts in effort on the defensive end and gives 5 rebounds over the guy who gives next to no effort and gives you 9.

The narrative that he has no defense is already long debunked, think of something else. And yeah the point of getting a rebound is to get the ball in your hands before the opposing players do. Geez.

[Bob8]

Because who needs stats on efficiency, turnovers, availability, wins?

And it looks nobody needs rebounds, assists and steals. I have nothing against Shai being in front, but man, talking about difference in turnovers, while they play totally different game is laughable. Interesting enough nobody is mentioning rebounding, where difference is huge.
?

Luka stat pads more rebounds because he has no interest in playing defense or doing anything that doesn’t involve him having the ball in his hands. Similar to Westbrook he just sees rebounds as a way to get the ball in his hands faster. I will take the guy who actually puts in effort on the defensive end and gives 5 rebounds over the guy who gives next to no effort and gives you 9.

Funny enough you're partially correct here, Pg having the ball in his hands as soon as possible is for sure desirable. Or maybe you believe C should organise the offense?

[MavsDirk41]

Luka stat pads more rebounds because he has no interest in playing defense or doing anything that doesn’t involve him having the ball in his hands. Similar to Westbrook he just sees rebounds as a way to get the ball in his hands faster. I will take the guy who actually puts in effort on the defensive end and gives 5 rebounds over the guy who gives next to no effort and gives you 9.

The narrative that he has no defense is already long debunked, think of something else. And yeah the point of getting a rebound is to get the ball in your hands before the opposing players do. Geez.

Brother i watched Luka for 6 years, his defense is horrible. He has moments when he gives effort but for the most part his overall defense is nonexistent. And i like Luka.

Luka shoots a ton of 3s because Luka wants to shoot a ton of 3s. SGA plays within the midrange because SGA doesnt want to shoot a ton of 3s. Its not that complicated.

[Ssj16]

Shai is underrated. He is posting the third best Box plus minus ever. Let that sink in third best ever

Read on Twitter

Sneaky, I see what you did there.

[Special_Puppy]

Per Thinking Basketball:
Shai 35.2 Points per 75 on +9.3 rTS and a 5% creation adjusted turnover %
Luka 34.1 points per 75 on +4.1 rTS and a 8% creation adjusted turnover %

[mademan]

Comparing FG% between a player, who’s shooting 11 3s and a player who’s shooting 5 3s is a bit odd, don’t you think? Why don’t we rather use TS% for efficiency? It’s 61.6 vs. 67.1. Shai still better but data more realistic.

About Tov, Luka is a classic Pg, while Shai is nearer to Sg. Luka has a ball more in his hands. Even Magic was averaging around 4 turnovers. I hope you don’t imply Shai is a better Pg than Magic.

So still a significantly more efficient player?

Yes significantly more efficient player, while being significantly less productive player.

Shai is less productive? That's a take

[Ssj16]

Luka is inching closer.

Lakers are the 2nd best team in the West despite the preseason expectations. This was almost entirely without Lebron. Only Shai can carry a team like this, unfortunately for Luka. But I expect Luka's efficiency to improve now with Lebron on the court and this to become a closer debate.

The irony behind this comment is that we have yet to see SGA perform a real carry job.

He can routinely sit fourth quarters because the rest of his team is good enough to protect the lead. This is a luxury that most other stars would kill for.

[Bob8]

So still a significantly more efficient player?

Yes significantly more efficient player, while being significantly less productive player.

Shai is less productive? That's a take

Less points, less assists, less points created, less rebounds, less steals, less fouls drawn...

[Mavrelous]

Luka doesn't belong in the conversation IMO, stat wise it's SGA Vs Jokic, team success amkes it SGA, Giannis, Luka and Cade are behind, Cade has a very strong narrative case that can easily bump him up.

[mademan]

Yes significantly more efficient player, while being significantly less productive player.

Shai is less productive? That's a take

Less points, less assists, less points created, less rebounds, less steals, less fouls drawn...

Per minut. Luka plays 4 more minutes. Shai scores more, and less turnovers means while Luka creates more points, he also gives up more. He also defends worse, meaning he gives out more on that end too.

Saying Luka produces more is crazy. You have to ignore him playing more at worse effeciency, turning the ball over significantly more and defending worse. This is like when people used to get excited by "omg, Kobe 35ppg", when other guys were putting up much better efficiency/defensive numbers and playing better as a whole.

[Homer38]

Shai is less productive? That's a take

Less points, less assists, less points created, less rebounds, less steals, less fouls drawn...

Per minut. Luka plays 4 more minutes. Shai scores more, and less turnovers means while Luka creates more points, he also gives up more. He also defends worse, meaning he gives out more on that end too.

Saying Luka produces more is crazy. You have to ignore him playing more at worse effeciency, turning the ball over significantly more and defending worse. This is like when people used to get excited by "omg, Kobe 35ppg", when other guys were putting up much better efficiency/defensive numbers and playing better as a whole.

It don't mean SGA would the same stats per minute if he would the same minutes that Luka has.This is harder to be more efficiant when you play more minutes every games

SGA is first for the MVP right now but you can have much better arguments that this

[Bob8]

Shai is less productive? That's a take

Less points, less assists, less points created, less rebounds, less steals, less fouls drawn...

Per minut. Luka plays 4 more minutes. Shai scores more, and less turnovers means while Luka creates more points, he also gives up more. He also defends worse, meaning he gives out more on that end too.

Saying Luka produces more is crazy. You have to ignore him playing more at worse effeciency, turning the ball over significantly more and defending worse. This is like when people used to get excited by "omg, Kobe 35ppg", when other guys were putting up much better efficiency/defensive numbers and playing better as a whole.

Look, I said Shai is more efficient and Luka more productive. Shai is not scoring more, he might score more if he played more, but in that case his efficiency might be worse. You can't take just one side of the equation. Funny how everyone is talking about those 2 TOVs more, which are product of Luka having the ball more in his hands foremost and having bigger usage, but on the other hand forgetting about rebounds and assists.

Btw. Luka's efficiency is pretty good considering his usage and production. And yes more minutes and bigger usage for sure has negative effect on efficiency.

[mademan]

Less points, less assists, less points created, less rebounds, less steals, less fouls drawn...

Per minut. Luka plays 4 more minutes. Shai scores more, and less turnovers means while Luka creates more points, he also gives up more. He also defends worse, meaning he gives out more on that end too.

Saying Luka produces more is crazy. You have to ignore him playing more at worse effeciency, turning the ball over significantly more and defending worse. This is like when people used to get excited by "omg, Kobe 35ppg", when other guys were putting up much better efficiency/defensive numbers and playing better as a whole.

It don't mean SGA would the same stats per minute if he would the same minutes that Luka has.This is harder to be more efficiant when you play more minutes every games

SGA is first for the MVP right now but you can have much better arguments that this

The arguments for SGA is that he's producing per minute better than everyone than Jokic. His argument is that he's a better player than everyone besides Jokic while being on a 1 loss team.

I have Jokic first because what he's doing is absolutely insane, but nobody else has even close to a reasonable argument over Shai. You have to ignore all efficiency and impact based metrics and thump naked assist/rebound numbers to put Luka over him. Over the first quarter(ish) of the season, this has only been a 2 man race and i dont see it changing.

[Bob8]

Per minut. Luka plays 4 more minutes. Shai scores more, and less turnovers means while Luka creates more points, he also gives up more. He also defends worse, meaning he gives out more on that end too.

Saying Luka produces more is crazy. You have to ignore him playing more at worse effeciency, turning the ball over significantly more and defending worse. This is like when people used to get excited by "omg, Kobe 35ppg", when other guys were putting up much better efficiency/defensive numbers and playing better as a whole.

It don't mean SGA would the same stats per minute if he would the same minutes that Luka has.This is harder to be more efficiant when you play more minutes every games

SGA is first for the MVP right now but you can have much better arguments that this

The arguments for SGA is that he's producing per minute better than everyone than Jokic. His argument is that he's a better player than everyone besides Jokic while being on a 1 loss team.

I have Jokic first because what he's doing is absolutely insane, but nobody else has even close to a reasonable argument over Shai. You have to ignore all efficiency and impact based metrics and thump naked assist/rebound numbers to put Luka over him. Over the first quarter(ish) of the season, this has only been a 2 man race and i dont see it changing.

Production per minute.
I guess Shai should sit entire second halfs and his production per minute will go even more up. OKC for sure can afford that.

[Homer38]

It don't mean SGA would the same stats per minute if he would the same minutes that Luka has.This is harder to be more efficiant when you play more minutes every games

SGA is first for the MVP right now but you can have much better arguments that this

The arguments for SGA is that he's producing per minute better than everyone than Jokic. His argument is that he's a better player than everyone besides Jokic while being on a 1 loss team.

I have Jokic first because what he's doing is absolutely insane, but nobody else has even close to a reasonable argument over Shai. You have to ignore all efficiency and impact based metrics and thump naked assist/rebound numbers to put Luka over him. Over the first quarter(ish) of the season, this has only been a 2 man race and i dont see it changing.

Production per minute.
I guess Shai should sit entire second halfs and his production per minute will go even more up. OKC for sure can afford that.

Imagine if Luka would sit after the first half last night....It would been 32 points in 20 minutes!