The 2025–26 NBA season has entered its most exciting stretch, and the MVP conversation is heating up like never before. What makes this year so compelling isn’t just the individual brilliance on display, but how those performances are intertwined with team success, storylines, and the narratives voters tend to favor. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as the favorite in most odds markets, and it’s easy to see why — his scoring, playmaking, and leadership have lifted Oklahoma City into elite territory. But while SGA’s dominance is hard to ignore, Nikola Jokić remains a constant presence in the conversation. The Nuggets’ offense revolves around his unique combination of passing, rebounding, and scoring, and even voters who shy away from repeat winners struggle to overlook the impact he has night after night.

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Beyond the favorites, the MVP race is full of fascinating storylines. Cade Cunningham has quietly transformed Detroit into a contender, proving that he can carry a team in multiple ways, while Victor Wembanyama continues to mesmerize with his defense and expanding offensive game. Stars like Luka Dončić and Jaylen Brown are always in the mix, capable of putting their teams on their shoulders and producing highlight-reel performances that grab attention. Even younger players like Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey remind us that a few unforgettable games or a late-season surge can suddenly catapult a player into MVP contention.

What makes this race so compelling is how it blends pure talent with timing, team success, and storylines that capture voters’ imaginations. Every game matters, every win counts, and every moment shapes the conversation. As the season moves into its final months, the MVP race is far from settled — it’s a living, breathing story that continues to evolve with each buzzer-beater, clutch performance, and standout stretch of games.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Odds: -145
Gilgeous-Alexander has firmly positioned himself as the MVP frontrunner, and the odds reflect how dominant his season has been. His scoring efficiency, clutch shot-making, and leadership have powered Oklahoma City into elite territory. What separates him is consistency — he rarely has an off night and controls the tempo every game. If the Thunder maintain their trajectory, he’s clearly the player everyone else is chasing.

Nikola Jokic

Odds: +290
Jokić continues to redefine what a center can do, blending scoring, passing, and rebounding into a nightly triple-double threat. His game looks effortless, but the impact is undeniable — Denver’s offense still flows entirely through him. Even with voter fatigue always a factor for past winners, his production makes it impossible to ignore him. If the Nuggets surge late, he could quickly close the gap in the race.

Cade Cunningham

Odds: +600
Cunningham’s rise in the MVP race reflects both his personal growth and Detroit’s emergence as a serious Eastern Conference team. He’s playing with poise, controlling pace and making smart decisions in high-leverage moments. His ability to balance scoring with playmaking has transformed the Pistons’ identity. If Detroit finishes near the top of the standings, his candidacy becomes even more compelling.

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Victor Wembanyama

Odds: +2700
Wembanyama’s odds capture the intrigue surrounding one of the most unique talents the league has ever seen. His defensive presence alone changes games, while his offensive skill set continues to expand at an incredible rate. Even when San Antonio struggles, his individual brilliance keeps him in the conversation. With more team success, his MVP trajectory could accelerate dramatically in future seasons.

Luka Doncic

Odds: +4000
Dončić’s numbers remain spectacular, and his ability to control an offense is as strong as ever. He thrives with the ball in his hands, dictating pace and creating scoring chances seemingly at will. The challenge for his MVP push lies in team momentum and standings position. If the Lakers make a strong late-season climb, his odds could shorten quickly.

Jaylen Brown

Odds: +5000
Brown continues to prove he’s far more than just a complementary star — he’s a driving force behind Boston’s success. His two-way impact, from efficient scoring to physical perimeter defense, strengthens his overall value. When he plays aggressively, the Celtics often look like a championship-level team. For MVP consideration, maintaining elite production while Boston dominates the standings is key.

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Donovan Mitchell

Odds: +10000
Mitchell remains one of the league’s most explosive scorers, capable of taking over games in short bursts. His offensive firepower keeps Cleveland competitive on any given night. However, MVP momentum typically requires top-tier team performance, which has been harder to sustain. A strong finish from the Cavaliers could help him gain late attention.

Anthony Edwards

Odds: +25000
Edwards brings energy, charisma, and elite scoring ability every time he steps on the floor. His highlight-level athleticism and fearless shot-making make him one of the league’s most exciting young stars. The biggest factor in his MVP viability is Minnesota’s consistency in the standings. If the Timberwolves take a major leap, his odds could change dramatically.

Jalen Brunson

Odds: +50000
Brunson’s steady leadership has helped define the Knicks’ identity, especially in tight games. He may not dominate headlines, but his efficiency and composure make him indispensable. His value shows most in late-game execution and offensive organization. For MVP consideration, New York would need a dominant season that forces voters to spotlight his impact.

Tyrese Maxey

Odds: +100000
Maxey’s speed and scoring bursts give Philadelphia an offensive spark few players can replicate. He continues to develop as a primary option, showing flashes of star-level production. However, MVP contention typically requires sustained elite performance and team dominance over a full season. For now, he remains an exciting long-shot with significant upside.

Conclusion

Heading into the final stretch, the MVP race is a thrilling mix of established stars, rising talents, and storylines that could shift in an instant. While the odds point toward certain frontrunners, nothing is guaranteed until the final buzzer. In a league as deep and unpredictable as this one, every game matters, and the battle for the MVP trophy is far from decided.

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Luka Doncic singles out Lakers’ abnormal situation in brutal Celtics loss appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

LOS ANGELES – After a first quarter that saw the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics tied at 28, the Lakers could not keep pace with their historic rival, getting outscored 83-61 the rest of the game en route to a 111-89 loss. For a Lakers team that has been explosive offensively, the 89 points was the second-lowest total they’ve had this season, as per Law Murray of The Athletic, and something that Luka Doncic admitted was not normal.

“I think they were playing physical. They were playing great defense,” Doncic said during his postgame press conference. “We need better offense. We scored 89 points. That’s not like us so we got to be better.”

Coming into the game against the Celtics, the Lakers were 12th in the NBA in points per game at 116.2. They were 10th in offensive rating at 117.6. On the flip side, the Celtics came in second in the league in opponents points per game at 108.4, and eighth in defensive rating at 113.5.

The Celtics swarming defense was certainly on display, especially their use of a deep drop and strong perimeter ball pressure.

“You’ve just got to match the physicality. . .especially on the defensive end,” Doncic said. “You got to match the physicality.”

Doncic finished the game with 25 points in 33 minutes while shooting 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from the 3-point line. He also added five rebounds, three assists and one steal.

The Lakers offensive struggles were also highlighted by head coach JJ Redick, who felt like the team generally played good enough defense to win the game. It was a reverse from the team’s norm this season in which they’ve usually put up a lot of points, but struggled to contain opposing offenses.

“We did a good job limiting their fast break points, did a good job limiting their points in the paint. . .we did enough defensively,” Redick said. “We were just awful offensively tonight.”

For Redick, one of the key areas that the Lakers struggled with offensively was getting shots at the rim and putting more pressure on the Celtics’ defense.

“There were opportunities, I think, to put more pressure on the rim, particularly in the first half,” Redick said. “We took 11 non-paint twos. We were 13-of-29 on paint twos, non-rim paint twos. That’s not normally what we shoot. And then we got some good looks from three, we didn’t knock them down. You got to make shots in this league.”

“I think a lot of times when teams are on that deeper drop versus all our guys that play pick and roll, it kind of puts you a little bit in a bind of not having the obvious choice to pass,” Redick continued. “We just got to do a better job of just finding guys and moving the ball.”

Prior to the game, the Lakers honored legendary coach Pat Riley, who had his battles against the Celtics in his days, with a statue outside the team’s arena.

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