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

[MavsDirk41]

Which part are you having trouble believing?

Jordan won DPOY while also winning the nba scoring title one year. Wilt put up 50 points and 25 rebounds a game during his time. I get you are a James fan but how do you know that nobody is better than his prime? And yes SGA has been amazing, but look at what Jokic is doing without two starters. Ive never seen a player carry a team like Jokic. He does more for his team then any other player in the league, and has for many years now.

For clarification, I meant in the current era no one is better than prime LeBron. For the record, LeBron is the GOAT IMO but that wasn't the statement I was trying to make. As far the Jokic statement, go back and see who was on the the 2007 Finals Cleveland team and that basically will tell you who the GOAT floor raiser is.

Fast forward and then you'll have further verification with Lebron actually carrying a similar Cav's roster to back to back 60 win seasons in 2008 and 2009. Something Jokic has never done. The contrast becomes even more apparent when in the summer of 2010, Cleveland went from a 61 win team to a 19 win team overnight. So ask yourself - Do you really think this current Nuggets team is a 19 win team if Jokic doesn't play a single game? Who believes that? This doesn't even touch base on the carry job Lebron did when Kyrie was injured in 2018. We saw what happened when Murray was injured in the playoffs. Nuggets go nowhere. Not even the WCF.

Whether it is regular season or playoffs, Lebron did more with less while playing elite basketball on both sides. Something no current or past player in history can claim. The evidence and records are all there. Jordan may have more rings but he couldn't carry a team of scrubs like Lebron. No one could.

[MavsDirk41]

Which part are you having trouble believing?

Jordan won DPOY while also winning the nba scoring title one year. Wilt put up 50 points and 25 rebounds a game during his time. I get you are a James fan but how do you know that nobody is better than his prime? And yes SGA has been amazing, but look at what Jokic is doing without two starters. Ive never seen a player carry a team like Jokic. He does more for his team then any other player in the league, and has for many years now.

For clarification, I meant in the current era no one is better than prime LeBron. For the record, LeBron is the GOAT IMO but that wasn't the statement I was trying to make. As far the Jokic statement, go back and see who was on the the 2007 Finals Cleveland team and that basically will tell you who the GOAT floor raiser is.

Fast forward and then you'll have further verification with Lebron actually carrying a similar Cav's roster to back to back 60 win seasons in 2008 and 2009. Something Jokic has never done. The contrast becomes even more apparent when in the summer of 2010, Cleveland went from a 61 win team to a 19 win team overnight. So ask yourself - Do you really think this current Nuggets team is a 19 win team if Jokic doesn't play a single game? Who believes that? This doesn't even touch base on the carry job Lebron did when Kyrie was injured in 2018. We saw what happened when Murray was injured in the playoffs. Nuggets go nowhere. Not even the WCF.

Whether it is regular season or playoffs, Lebron did more with less while playing elite basketball on both sides. Something no current or past player in history can claim. The evidence and records are all there. Jordan may have more rings but he couldn't carry a team of scrubs like Lebron. No one could.

87/88 Chicago won 50 RS games with Sam Vincent averaging 13 ppg. They beat Cleveland in the playoffs with Oakley second on the team averaging 11 ppg. Jordan absolutely carried a bad team that year.

Without Jokic Denver wins 20 games this year. He has carried Denver the last several seasons without an all nba or all star teammate. He absolutely carries this team on his back just like he is doing now.

[falcolombardi]

What weaknesses does Shai have? I’m being serious.

Because if you watch him play, it’s not a stretch to say he’s playing as well as Steph or KD have.

Shooting percentages aren’t advanced stats.

And if you don’t think Jokic’s current play rivals some of Bron’s better seasons I’m not sure what to tell you.

No one is better than prime Lebron but Shai's current season is very similar to Curry's 2016 year. No he is not changing the game offensively but from my observation Shai is doing two things Steph could not replicate that season. And that is he's play meaningful defense (Curry was not good) and (currently) leading a team to a record setting pace without its second option. Curry had Klay and Green for the majority if not all of the 2016 campaign. So what Shai is doing with an injured roster is down right other worldly.

2025 Shai is shaping up to be one for the record. Thunder may pass 70 wins, Shai wins MVP (again) and also, unlike Curry in 2016, there is no Lebron keeping Shai from leading OKC to back to back titles. So its very likely that he even surpasses 2016 Curry. This is just shaping up to be a legendary season. This race could realistically be over by All Star break.

Do you actually believe everything you wrote in this post?

Why wouldnt he believe it?

[MavsDirk41]

No one is better than prime Lebron but Shai's current season is very similar to Curry's 2016 year. No he is not changing the game offensively but from my observation Shai is doing two things Steph could not replicate that season. And that is he's play meaningful defense (Curry was not good) and (currently) leading a team to a record setting pace without its second option. Curry had Klay and Green for the majority if not all of the 2016 campaign. So what Shai is doing with an injured roster is down right other worldly.

2025 Shai is shaping up to be one for the record. Thunder may pass 70 wins, Shai wins MVP (again) and also, unlike Curry in 2016, there is no Lebron keeping Shai from leading OKC to back to back titles. So its very likely that he even surpasses 2016 Curry. This is just shaping up to be a legendary season. This race could realistically be over by All Star break.

Do you actually believe everything you wrote in this post?

Why wouldnt he believe it?

Was just asking because i have seen better prime’s then James and i didnt even get to see Wilt, and while SGA is amazing, look at what Jokic is doing without 2 starters. Replace Jokic with SGA and i dont think Denver would be as great of a team, especially right now. Not to take anything away from SGA but OKC is deep, young, and really has no weaknesses. And they are missing a starter, but i have doubts they get to 70 wins. I think they will prioritize health for the playoffs.

[AleksandarN]

No one is better than prime Lebron but Shai's current season is very similar to Curry's 2016 year. No he is not changing the game offensively but from my observation Shai is doing two things Steph could not replicate that season. And that is he's play meaningful defense (Curry was not good) and (currently) leading a team to a record setting pace without its second option. Curry had Klay and Green for the majority if not all of the 2016 campaign. So what Shai is doing with an injured roster is down right other worldly.

2025 Shai is shaping up to be one for the record. Thunder may pass 70 wins, Shai wins MVP (again) and also, unlike Curry in 2016, there is no Lebron keeping Shai from leading OKC to back to back titles. So its very likely that he even surpasses 2016 Curry. This is just shaping up to be a legendary season. This race could realistically be over by All Star break.

Do you actually believe everything you wrote in this post?

Why wouldnt he believe it?

Because it is Optms. He could think Optms might be trolling. Never know.

[Exp0sed]

For me, what damages Shai's case a bit is OKC are an excellent offensive team, but they're not even best in the league.

It's defense where they dominate, this is a defensive team, the difference between them and second is the same as the difference between 2nd place and 10th place (if it wasn't for the Celtics also being great on defense it would be the difference between 2nd and 19th place, literally non-play-off teams). It's a bit like saying Draymond should have been MVP for being the main defender on GSW while the rest of the team were offensive monsters.

I feel a bit the same way

I was watching the first half of their game against Portland. PDX has been playing ok and gave the Thunder their only loss earlier in the season. they had key starters like Jrue and Sharpe out with injury, so short handed

Avdija has been carving up the league and the Thunder wanted to make a point defensively, on Avdija specifically and PDX in general and boy...that was some scary stuff

Avdija looked like Trae Young vs. the Heat in that series a couple of years ago

I think they have a legit case for being the best defensive team off all times. they wouldnn't be as good as say the Ben Wallace Pistons in that era's rules but in this era's rules, they are far and beyond the best defensive team

if SGA is considered the fronr runner mostly because of team wins, it's hard to ignore the fact that those wins are more predicated on defense, than they are on offense. teams just can't score against them, turn the ball over every other play..it's kinda nuts

while SGA is a very good defender he's not the main driver of that defense

If you watched that first half and haven't noticed Shai putting up 28 points on 10/11 shooting, that kinda falls on you tbh.

Think it's a bit of confirmation bias on your end.

how do u mean?

I did notice that..he was phenomenal. he started his run after a phantom foul the refs pinned on Avdija. after that call, every player in Portland was giving him space to make a line-drive to the hoop every other play. he's so good, quick, crafty, with counters to everything..reffing him like that does make him unstoppable

however, my post had nothing to do with the offensive side of the ball. yes, OKC crushed Portland's defense as well. but the defensive side was historic, imo. and it's been like that for most of the season, Portland looked like a completly different team that it does against other teams and so do most teams who meet OKC on any given night and it isn't because of OKC's offense (which was great in it's own right)

srry, no "bias" here

[CobraCommander]

Agree with most of what you said. Shai is the offence, and he’s my current MVP front runner. But, OKC are a +8.4 net rating when Shai is off the floor, that would be good for 4th in the league. Also bare in mind that’s without J-Dub too… if OKC had a healthy roster and no Shai, I’m sure they’d be at least a 50+ win team, off the back of that insane defence.

That has been my point, and the reason to point that Presti is the real MVP, while SGA is amazing no doubt.

Moreover, if you replace SGA with another SG that is good although not elite, in OKC roster, I believe you still have the best team in the league.

I would say Shai is the icing on the cake, a great one, the one that lifts offensively the team, but not as valuable as Jokic. Again, my 2 cents.

this is completely disagreeable. this is not practical. reality beats hypoyheticals all day.

sga is not some icing on the cake he was the one who elevated himself from the pack of prospects and made the rest fit around him.

again, the turnover differential department, the shot selection and shooting inconsistencies around the star playmaker are being significantly overlooked. the fact that sga is at least the second most impactful offensive player with a margin against the field in the league without adding a defensive weak link is what make this team so good.

take the best guard of the rest, which is doncic. you just destroyed team identity and everything that made this team from the ground

in fact the only player in the league imo that could replace sga in this roster while keeping it elite is not even a guard. it's giannis. he fits the boxes as he's been the one in this league that's been consistently brute forcing the middle on a north/south offense.

the fact that people act like SGA is icing on a perfect cake is silly. the last time OKC lost a playoff series, SGA was the best player on the court and JWill and Chet didnt show up offensively and they lost. Defense wins championships but offensive firepower wins mvps...and apart from Detroit and Boston and the Raptors, in recent times, you need an MVP on a roster to win a ring. someone that can get a bucket when you need it...and people discounting that SGA is the reason why the rest of the guys are so good dont watch OKC enough....every other game its someone else HELPING SGA...but its rarely the same guy now that Jwill is out...last year people said SGA wasn't so good because he had Jwill to help but now no Jwill and they still rolling...the only consistent things about okc...they all play together on defense...and SGA gives you offense every night..... OH and SGA makes the whole team feel like they part of the team. true leader....SGA is a leader maybe superior to Kobe and MJ, who alienated their teammates or Lebron who was a king. it looks like these guys love playing in OKC and it shows in the winning. the no drama OKC squad led by no drama sga

SGA

[AleksandarN]

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

Read on Twitter

[lethalizer]

I feel a bit the same way

I was watching the first half of their game against Portland. PDX has been playing ok and gave the Thunder their only loss earlier in the season. they had key starters like Jrue and Sharpe out with injury, so short handed

Avdija has been carving up the league and the Thunder wanted to make a point defensively, on Avdija specifically and PDX in general and boy...that was some scary stuff

Avdija looked like Trae Young vs. the Heat in that series a couple of years ago

I think they have a legit case for being the best defensive team off all times. they wouldnn't be as good as say the Ben Wallace Pistons in that era's rules but in this era's rules, they are far and beyond the best defensive team

if SGA is considered the fronr runner mostly because of team wins, it's hard to ignore the fact that those wins are more predicated on defense, than they are on offense. teams just can't score against them, turn the ball over every other play..it's kinda nuts

while SGA is a very good defender he's not the main driver of that defense

If you watched that first half and haven't noticed Shai putting up 28 points on 10/11 shooting, that kinda falls on you tbh.

Think it's a bit of confirmation bias on your end.

how do u mean?

I did notice that..he was phenomenal. he started his run after a phantom foul the refs pinned on Avdija. after that call, every player in Portland was giving him space to make a line-drive to the hoop every other play. he's so good, quick, crafty, with counters to everything..reffing him like that does make him unstoppable

however, my post had nothing to do with the offensive side of the ball. yes, OKC crushed Portland's defense as well. but the defensive side was historic, imo. and it's been like that for most of the season, Portland looked like a completly different team that it does against other teams and so do most teams who meet OKC on any given night and it isn't because of OKC's offense (which was great in it's own right)

srry, no "bias" here

Sure, you're not biased at all

[jg77]

Let's not over complicate things:

Thunder over 70 wins = SGA MVP

Thunder under 70 wins = Jokic MVP

[Special_Puppy]

Let's not over complicate things:

Thunder over 70 wins = SGA MVP

Thunder under 70 wins = Jokic MVP

I think if the gap in wins is over 10 then SGA is favored and if it’s under 10 wins then Jokic is favored

[hagredionis]

Luka broke another record, the fastest player in NBA history to get to 400+ PTS & 100+ AST in a season.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

May the best man, I mean team, win.

[Hook_Em]

Sam Presti tbh.

[MavsDirk41]

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

Read on Twitter

Joker has 6 of the top 9….wow! Guy is ridiculous.

[Doctor MJ]

Reading some of the posts I'll jump in and comment on something I see.

First thing I'll say is that at present my instinct would be to give Jokic the nod for MVP, so I'm not literally arguing for Shai, though I did side with him last year.

But it's the discussion about Shai that has my attention with people focused on the idea that an MVP should be a guy with an outright unsuccessful supporting cast. This was argued for in the case of Jokic last year, and Bontemps just advocated for it this year for Giannis.

I would advocate for always keeping two things front of mind when considering MVP, with the first being related to the above stance.

Basically, that for an MVP we should be seeing dramatic evidence of lift. While this wasn't always realistic prior to the PBP era, now we're all looking at On-Off & RAPM-derivatives to see at the very least some sign that a guy is making his team better.

But there's a second component that is more subtle:

It's also about demonstration of ceiling - meaning elite-play, contending-play, etc.

This has a number of dimensions to it, one of which is just about that player proving to us he can roughly do his thing deep into the playoffs which all the major candidates at this time have already done prior to this year, and thus I don't think will be super relevant this year (looked like it might be relevant cuz Wemby, but no).

But part of what we're talking about here is the fact that a similar raw lift by +/- based metrics can lead to qualitatively different perceptions when we focus on "how good they be without him?". Last year it was noted that if you project W-L differences between Shai in OKC & Jokic in Denver, Jokic had a massive advantage. The way it was presented it was as if that perspective (binary team result) was the "true" perspective, and while I get why people think that, I'd strongly disagree, because if you do so, what you're going to find is that the star in question appears to get less valuable as your team moves farther from .500 play, and while we're all find with that on the bottom end, I don't think it strikes anyone as right that a player should get treated as less valuable while achieving the same lift (+/- style impact) on a more successful team.

Adding on top of this is the just harsh truth that we've seen many, many examples in history where improving from 40 to 55 wins is a lot easier than improving from 55 to 70 wins. To reach that tippy top tier requires synergy, which is not easy to ensure, and not straight forward to quantify analytically.

And from the perspective of Shai here, it just really bugs me seeing folks tear him down as if what he's doing right now "isn't really that impressive" because of the things he is not. Whatever he is not, whatever he is, it's incredible and we really haven't seen something exactly like it before. It really shouldn't be brushed aside, it should be something we all try to understand, because I don't think anyone predicted he could become this even though the emergence happened in front of our eyes in something like slow motion.

Luka was an intuitive genius from day one, and so was Jokic (though the NBA took longer to realize it).
Giannis was a raw prospect who figured out how to use an aspect of his athleticism as a superpowers, and boom he took the leap.

Shai got where he got by methodically improving season to season to season, and that's not normal in the NBA. Sure superstars learn new tricks too, but generally gradual learning of new tricks doesn't make someone rise to superstar status in this game. Yet, that's precisely what Shai has done.

And I'll end by connecting this back to part of what concerns me here:

I've long seen a tendency to dismiss late blooming MVP candidates as in some way being unworthy due to the context they play in.

While it is right to consider the value of a player's supporting cast when comparing stars of various teams, if we're not careful what we end up doing is rationalizing why our prior model of the player doesn't need to change in the face of new evidence we did not predict. "He's the same guy, he just has better teammates/coach/whatever."

So then this is what I urge everyone to check themselves on generally, and specifically what I'd say I see in Shai skeptics right now. No, he doesn't have Jokic/Luka-type genius, but he's got some other stuff that's been driving ridiculous success on the court. Let's understand that stuff.

[Andri]

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

Read on Twitter

Being Jokic the one posting the best ever this season.

And the previous third best one was also Jokic's last season, that he didn't win MVP.

Letting it sink too.

[hagredionis]

This obsession with plus/minus is really ridiculous. What plus/minus really measures is if the team has a good bench player playing the same position.

[AleksandarN]

This obsession with plus/minus is really ridiculous. What plus/minus really measures is if the team has a good bench player playing the same position.

Weird that Jokic has the best back up and bench he ever had and he is smashing the record. Explain that then?

[falcolombardi]

This obsession with plus/minus is really ridiculous. What plus/minus really measures is if the team has a good bench player playing the same position.

Weird that Jokic has the best back up and bench he ever had and he is smashing the record. Explain that then?

Shai has a healthy lead on on-court rating tho, and starting lineup is not an area where the jalen-less thunder has a big lead on the denver starters with jokic/gordon/murray/cam (this is subject to change again without braun and gordon tho)

At some point people have to see that shai just absolutely dominates with everyone he shares the court with lol with or without co-stars