Anonymous NBA player poll 2026: Who is this season’s MVP? SGA, Jokić or Dončić?
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- For the first 25 years of the NBA MVP award, players decided the winner, but since the 1980-81 season, media panels have selected the MVP; The Athletic is now releasing results from its 2026 Anonymous NBA Player Poll to highlight player perspectives on the 2025-26 MVP race.
- Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) leads the players' vote for MVP, nearly doubling support over Denver’s Nikola Jokić, despite San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama generating buzz but not cracking the top five among players.
- SGA is praised for his scoring consistency, efficiency, and leadership, averaging 31.1 points per game with a historic streak of 140 consecutive 20-plus point games, while leading the Thunder to the best record in the league despite injuries to key teammates.
- Nikola Jokić remains a strong contender with historic all-around stats, including averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists, and is recognized by players as one of the best on the planet.
- Other notable MVP candidates include Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, and Los Angeles’ Luka Dončić, each praised for their individual performances and impact on their teams amid injury challenges.
