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

[NYPiston]

It's Jokic right now. I've said it before and will say it again, he's a clear top 10 player of all time for me and is approaching top 5 if he continues this for another 2-3 years. He's a machine.
I can see an argument for SGA but he has a whole lot more to work with in OKC.

[lethalizer]

Big win for the "OKC schedule has been easy" folks like me this one.

Point: You can never take any win for granted in the NBA.

[doogie_hauser]

Luka having more votes than SGA at the moment is legitimately hilarious.

[MMyhre]

It's Jokic right now. I've said it before and will say it again, he's a clear top 10 player of all time for me and is approaching top 5 if he continues this for another 2-3 years. He's a machine.
I can see an argument for SGA but he has a whole lot more to work with in OKC.

Kings get 23 free throws and shoot 62.3 % on two pointers against Jokic with 128 points despite only making 10 threes on 33 %.
Defense matters, especially as a center. Sure, he can hold up against chubby Sengun and his drives, but faster guards/wings he cannot keep up with.

[scrabbarista]

It's Jokic right now. I've said it before and will say it again, he's a clear top 10 player of all time for me and is approaching top 5 if he continues this for another 2-3 years. He's a machine.
I can see an argument for SGA but he has a whole lot more to work with in OKC.

Kings get 23 free throws and shoot 62.3 % on two pointers against Jokic with 128 points despite only making 10 threes on 33 %.
Defense matters, especially as a center. Sure, he can hold up against chubby Sengun and his drives, but faster guards/wings he cannot keep up with.

As is true in like 97% of Nuggets losses, the game was lost when Jokic wasn't on the court.

He has one game this season in which Denver was outscored in his minutes. (Same as SGA.)

[MMyhre]

It's Jokic right now. I've said it before and will say it again, he's a clear top 10 player of all time for me and is approaching top 5 if he continues this for another 2-3 years. He's a machine.
I can see an argument for SGA but he has a whole lot more to work with in OKC.

Kings get 23 free throws and shoot 62.3 % on two pointers against Jokic with 128 points despite only making 10 threes on 33 %.
Defense matters, especially as a center. Sure, he can hold up against chubby Sengun and his drives, but faster guards/wings he cannot keep up with.

As is true in like 97% of Nuggets losses, the game was lost when Jokic wasn't on the court.

He has one game this season in which Denver was outscored in his minutes. (Same as SGA.)

He played 37 mins with a +2.
Bench was -5, -5, +3 and -8.
Hardly a giant difference.
Against the Kings.

[kazyv]

It's Jokic right now. I've said it before and will say it again, he's a clear top 10 player of all time for me and is approaching top 5 if he continues this for another 2-3 years. He's a machine.
I can see an argument for SGA but he has a whole lot more to work with in OKC.

Kings get 23 free throws and shoot 62.3 % on two pointers against Jokic with 128 points despite only making 10 threes on 33 %.
Defense matters, especially as a center. Sure, he can hold up against chubby Sengun and his drives, but faster guards/wings he cannot keep up with.

defense matters as a team. especially when looking at single games

[MMyhre]

It's Jokic right now. I've said it before and will say it again, he's a clear top 10 player of all time for me and is approaching top 5 if he continues this for another 2-3 years. He's a machine.
I can see an argument for SGA but he has a whole lot more to work with in OKC.

Kings get 23 free throws and shoot 62.3 % on two pointers against Jokic with 128 points despite only making 10 threes on 33 %.
Defense matters, especially as a center. Sure, he can hold up against chubby Sengun and his drives, but faster guards/wings he cannot keep up with.

defense matters as a team. especially when looking at single games

Everyone knows that, but the same team did fine against a better team yesterday, Jokic plays the most important defensive position for lowering field goal % closer to the rim, and they didn't lose by three pointers. He is too heavy to cover and contest shots efficiently at the rim, as shown by his bottom 8th percentile opposing player field goal percentage (+3 fg %) when he contests shots for centers.

[doogie_hauser]

Joker absolutely waxed Alpie the other night in Houston (and Sengun is absolutely one of my very favourite players and a lock to play in the All Star game again) defensively.

People who say Jokic can't play defence are talking out of their clacker

[MMyhre]

Joker absolutely waxed Alpie the other night in Houston (and Sengun is absolutely one of my very favourite players and a lock to play in the All Star game again) defensively.

People who say Jokic can't play defence are talking out of their clacker

It's almost like matchups matter on defense, Sengun is similar to Jokic in build and easier for him to keep up with compared to quicker guards or forwards getting into the paint and using the slow speed and verticality of Jokic against him. He also played a back to back and weighs 300 + pounds, his defensive capacity will be lower on back2backs and it showed.

Joker can be a good defender at times, and even decent in certain matchups, but over a full season he will have bad games like this compared to better defensive players with more mobility, shot blocking presence, athleticism and a higher motor/less total weight to run around with ++.

[Johnny Firpo]

Kings get 23 free throws and shoot 62.3 % on two pointers against Jokic with 128 points despite only making 10 threes on 33 %.
Defense matters, especially as a center. Sure, he can hold up against chubby Sengun and his drives, but faster guards/wings he cannot keep up with.

defense matters as a team. especially when looking at single games

Everyone knows that, but the same team did fine against a better team yesterday, Jokic plays the most important defensive position for lowering field goal % closer to the rim, and they didn't lose by three pointers. He is too heavy to cover and contest shots efficiently at the rim, as shown by his bottom 8th percentile opposing player field goal percentage (+3 fg %) when he contests shots for centers.

He was still a plus in this game, the Nuggets won his minutes, and tt was a back to back, and they played without their two best defenders in Braun and Gordon. Obviously he is not great at defending the rim, we knew and know this, no one denies it, but he is still the best in spite of that (and all recent advanced stats once again show this). You guys can point this out after every game where they lose, but I don't see how it is an argument. Everyone knows he is a bad rim protector, but his overall impact still makes him the best.

[QPR]

Joker absolutely waxed Alpie the other night in Houston (and Sengun is absolutely one of my very favourite players and a lock to play in the All Star game again) defensively.

People who say Jokic can't play defence are talking out of their clacker

It's almost like matchups matter on defense, Sengun is similar to Jokic in build and easier for him to keep up with compared to quicker guards or forwards getting into the paint and using the slow speed and verticality of Jokic against him. He also played a back to back and weighs 300 + pounds, his defensive capacity will be lower on back2backs and it showed.

Joker can be a good defender at times, and even decent in certain matchups, but over a full season he will have bad games like this compared to better defensive players with more mobility, shot blocking presence, athleticism and a higher motor/less total weight to run around with ++.

Man the amount of time you spend in this thread debating everyone who praises Jokic

[MMyhre]

defense matters as a team. especially when looking at single games

Everyone knows that, but the same team did fine against a better team yesterday, Jokic plays the most important defensive position for lowering field goal % closer to the rim, and they didn't lose by three pointers. He is too heavy to cover and contest shots efficiently at the rim, as shown by his bottom 8th percentile opposing player field goal percentage (+3 fg %) when he contests shots for centers.

He was still a plus in this game, the Nuggets won his minutes, and tt was a back to back, and they played without their two best defenders in Braun and Gordon. Obviously he is not great at defending the rim, we knew and know this, no one denies it, but he is still the best in spite of that (and all recent advanced stats once again show this). You guys can point this out after every game where they lose, but I don't see how it is an argument. Everyone knows he is a bad rim protector, but his overall impact still makes him the best.

Nikola Jokic wins the winning by 2 points while he played award against the Kings at home, awarded by Johnny Firpo.
They still beat the Rockets without Gordon.

He isn't the best if he will keep losing games at home to teams like the Kings, led by a 37 year old Westbrook who they kicked out last season.

He has been outstanding offensively to start the season, but if he starts bleeding defensive value and losing to poor teams he isn't going to win MVP this year either.

[MMyhre]

Joker absolutely waxed Alpie the other night in Houston (and Sengun is absolutely one of my very favourite players and a lock to play in the All Star game again) defensively.

People who say Jokic can't play defence are talking out of their clacker

It's almost like matchups matter on defense, Sengun is similar to Jokic in build and easier for him to keep up with compared to quicker guards or forwards getting into the paint and using the slow speed and verticality of Jokic against him. He also played a back to back and weighs 300 + pounds, his defensive capacity will be lower on back2backs and it showed.

Joker can be a good defender at times, and even decent in certain matchups, but over a full season he will have bad games like this compared to better defensive players with more mobility, shot blocking presence, athleticism and a higher motor/less total weight to run around with ++.

Man the amount of time you spend in this thread debating everyone who praises Jokic

That's because I am objective, no matter how great a player is, if he does something bad, you mention it. I don't care if you have 50 10 10, if you played bad defense and lost the game, I am going to mention it. Heck, even if you win the game, I am going to mention it, because if you meet teams that can punish that poor defense in the postseason, you will often lose.

Also I don't even debate those who praise Jokic, you are wrong. I debate people who refute my claims about anything negative about him with some **** excuse. It's really annoying, and it should stop, but biased people being subjective will always exist.

They would have lost that game to the Wolves if Edwards wasn't trash for example, you can get away with it once but it will backfire at some point.

I still have Jokic as number 1, but Shai is being absolutely divine offensively, and the only reason I don't put Shai 1# is because they played terrible teams lately like the Kings, Jazz, Pelicans & Hornets.

If Shai keeps hitting stepback threes and playmaking as good as he is, and winning against The Blazers x2, Wolves & Suns I will put him as 1#. Games won against trash teams don't count as much for me, but losing to them does when the race is as tight as it is.

[Johnny Firpo]

Everyone knows that, but the same team did fine against a better team yesterday, Jokic plays the most important defensive position for lowering field goal % closer to the rim, and they didn't lose by three pointers. He is too heavy to cover and contest shots efficiently at the rim, as shown by his bottom 8th percentile opposing player field goal percentage (+3 fg %) when he contests shots for centers.

He was still a plus in this game, the Nuggets won his minutes, and tt was a back to back, and they played without their two best defenders in Braun and Gordon. Obviously he is not great at defending the rim, we knew and know this, no one denies it, but he is still the best in spite of that (and all recent advanced stats once again show this). You guys can point this out after every game where they lose, but I don't see how it is an argument. Everyone knows he is a bad rim protector, but his overall impact still makes him the best.

Nikola Jokic wins the winning by 2 points while he played award against the Kings at home, awarded by Johnny Firpo.
They still beat the Rockets without Gordon.

He isn't the best if he will keep losing games at home to teams like the Kings, led by a 37 year old Westbrook who they kicked out last season.

He has been outstanding offensively to start the season, but if he starts bleeding defensive value and losing to poor teams he isn't going to win MVP this year either.

Sure, in the context of the MVP, you are right, if the Nuggets will drop a lot of games, he will not win it. But Jokic lost the MVP last year too, and still pretty much the consensus best player in the league on every poll, including last year's and this year's GM poll, and was after the playoffs too. I don't think that will change, even if OKC wins the next two. Well, unless Shai is clearly better, which he wasn't so far, and isn't this year.

[MMyhre]

He was still a plus in this game, the Nuggets won his minutes, and tt was a back to back, and they played without their two best defenders in Braun and Gordon. Obviously he is not great at defending the rim, we knew and know this, no one denies it, but he is still the best in spite of that (and all recent advanced stats once again show this). You guys can point this out after every game where they lose, but I don't see how it is an argument. Everyone knows he is a bad rim protector, but his overall impact still makes him the best.

Nikola Jokic wins the winning by 2 points while he played award against the Kings at home, awarded by Johnny Firpo.
They still beat the Rockets without Gordon.

He isn't the best if he will keep losing games at home to teams like the Kings, led by a 37 year old Westbrook who they kicked out last season.

He has been outstanding offensively to start the season, but if he starts bleeding defensive value and losing to poor teams he isn't going to win MVP this year either.

Sure, in the context of the MVP, you are right, if the Nuggets will drop a lot of games, he will not win it. But Jokic lost the MVP last year too, and still pretty much the consensus best player in the league on every poll, including last year's and this year's GM poll, and was after the playoffs too. I don't think that will change, even if OKC wins the next two. Well, unless Shai is clearly better, which he wasn't so far, and isn't this year.

That will change if Shai keeps up the three point shooting and improved playmaking while beating the Nuggets again in the postseason with better play than last postseason.

Remember, he is not getting to statpad anything in the 4th quarter now to up his volume stats closer to 40 + pts 10 + assists with other stuff like Jokic gets. Jokic has played 7 more minutes over the last 5 games than Shai.

[doogie_hauser]

The whole narrative of best player on the best team in the NBA is automatically favourite for NBA is nonsense.

Jayson Tatum was the best player in the 24 Celrics Championship team (least in the regular season) and didn't finish top 5 in voting that year .

This OKC team currently is more stacked/talent laden than that great Celtcs team.

And FWIW I do support SGA winning MVP last season, but right now Jokic has to be favourite

I will concede if OKC win 70 plus games in the regular season (which they are on pace for currently) its hard not to make a case for Shai to win MVP again (especially in the loaded Western Conference)

[bbms]

The whole narrative of best player on the best team in the NBA is automatically favourite for NBA is nonsense.

Jayson Tatum was the best player in the 24 Celrics Championship team (least in the regular season) and didn't finish top 5 in voting that year .

This OKC team currently is more stacked/talent laden than that great Celtcs team.

And FWIW I do support SGA winning MVP last season, but right now Jokic has to be favourite

I will concede if OKC win 70 plus games in the regular season (which they are on pace for currently) its hard not to make a case for Shai to win MVP again (especially in the loaded Western Conference)

you know whats a bigger nonsense? the idea shai is only an mvp candidate for team record

[doogie_hauser]

The whole narrative of best player on the best team in the NBA is automatically favourite for NBA is nonsense.

Jayson Tatum was the best player in the 24 Celrics Championship team (least in the regular season) and didn't finish top 5 in voting that year .

This OKC team currently is more stacked/talent laden than that great Celtcs team.

And FWIW I do support SGA winning MVP last season, but right now Jokic has to be favourite

I will concede if OKC win 70 plus games in the regular season (which they are on pace for currently) its hard not to make a case for Shai to win MVP again (especially in the loaded Western Conference)

you know whats a bigger nonsense? the idea shai is only an mvp candidate for team record

The thing is, OKC could still win the chip if (heaven forbid) Shai suffered a season ending injury, can you say the same about Joker at the Nuggets, Luke at the Lakers, Member Spurs etc

It's definitely not his fault for Sam Presti being an amazing GM and recruiter, but SGA does benefit from playing on maybe the most talented and deep roster in NBA history.

[Mavrelous]

The whole narrative of best player on the best team in the NBA is automatically favourite for NBA is nonsense.

Jayson Tatum was the best player in the 24 Celrics Championship team (least in the regular season) and didn't finish top 5 in voting that year .

This OKC team currently is more stacked/talent laden than that great Celtcs team.

And FWIW I do support SGA winning MVP last season, but right now Jokic has to be favourite

I will concede if OKC win 70 plus games in the regular season (which they are on pace for currently) its hard not to make a case for Shai to win MVP again (especially in the loaded Western Conference)

1. That's patently false, right now, OKC is w/o JDub and 23/24 Tatum-less Celtics are better team than SGA and JDUB-less Thunder, in fact I have Jrue/Brown on par with JDub/Chet, IHart on par with KP, and I have Derrick White and Horford as better than anyone else on the Thunder, Thunder are certainly deeper, and are much much better 7-15, but 2-6 to 2-6, I think Celtics were better.
2. SGA would not be an MVP favourite on 64 wins in a weaker conferece, he will be MVP favourite on a 70 wins team in a harder conference.