NBA MVP Finalists: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads finalists

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic were named 2026 NBA MVP finalists. Jokic averaged a triple-double, Wemby led in blocks.

Gilgeous-Alexander seeks back-to-back MVPs vs Jokic’s historic triple-double season and Wemby’s breakout year. Winners announced in playoffs...

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlines the finalists announced Sunday for this year’s award alongside San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and Denver’s three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who edged Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo in last year’s voting and was named NBA Finals MVP as the Thunder beat Indiana for the title, averaged more than 30 points per game this season.

He led Oklahoma City to the top seed in the Western Conference and the league’s best record at 64-18.

Wembanyama, 22, has driven San Antonio’s first playoff run since 2019, averaging a career-high 25 points per game and a league-best 3.1 blocks.

  

Jokic averaged a triple-double and became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists in the same season. He put up 27.9 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game.

Wembanyama also headlines the finalists for Defensive Player of the Year, with Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren and Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson also on the ballot.

Gilgeous-Alexander is also up for Clutch Player of the Year. He scored 175 points in clutch time, defined as the final five minutes of regulation or overtime with the score within five points.

The 2025-26 Finalists for Kia NBA Most Valuable Player.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokić
Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/Gy5UcInp6h

— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham were both ruled eligible for awards despite not meeting the 65-game minimum, but neither made the final MVP ballot.

 

Anthony Edwards was ruled out of the MVP race when his request for an “extraordinary circumstances” exemption from the 65-game rule was denied. He is still among the Clutch Player finalists, which isn't covered by the regulation.

  

The awards, voted on by a panel of sports media members, will be announced over the course of the playoffs.