NBA MVP Race 2026: SGA vs Jokic vs Tatum — Who Deserves It?
The 2026 NBA MVP race is one of the closest in years. Three players have legitimate cases, and the winner will likely be decided by team record and narrative as much as individual performance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — The favorite
SGA is averaging 32.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.8 rebounds while leading the Thunder to the best record in the NBA. His midrange game is the most efficient in the league, and his defense has reached All-NBA level. The Thunder are 52-14, and SGA is the clear reason why. His case: best player on the best team, elite on both ends.
Nikola Jokic — The perennial candidate
Jokic is averaging 26.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.4 assists — near triple-double numbers for the third straight year. His advanced stats are the best in the league by a wide margin. The concern: voter fatigue. Jokic has won three of the last four MVPs, and voters may want to give the award to someone new.
Jayson Tatum — The defending champion
Tatum is averaging 28.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while leading the Celtics to the best record in the East. He has been on a mission to prove he is the best player on the Celtics after Jaylen Brown won Finals MVP last year. His two-way play has been outstanding.
Prediction
SGA wins MVP. Best record in the league, elite two-way play, and the narrative of leading a young team to the top seed. Jokic finishes second, Tatum third. But all three are deserving — this is a vintage MVP race.