Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA’s MVP award for the second consecutive campaign during the 2025-26 season.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the 14th player in NBA history to win consecutive MVP awards. He put together another memorable campaign, averaging 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.
After winning his first MVP trophy in 2024-25, Gilgeous-Alexander entered the past season as a co-favorite in the MVP market at the BetMGM online sportsbook. He and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić were both +275 on opening night of the 2025-26 campaign.
Odds to Win NBA MVP 2027
NBA odds for the 2026-27 MVP race likely won’t be available until this summer, but I’ve put together a list of the top contenders for next year’s award:
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder |
| Nikola Jokić | Nuggets |
| Luka Donćić | Lakers |
| Jayson Tatum | Celtics |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks |
| Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves |
| Cade Cunningham | Pistons |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers |
Who Will Win NBA MVP in 2027?
If this postseason was any indication, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is about to take over the league. He’s my early pick to win the MVP award in the 2026-27 NBA season.
In his third campaign at 22 years old, Wembanyama became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner in NBA history. He finished third in MVP voting behind Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić, guiding the Spurs to a 62-20 record and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Oh, and he followed that up by leading San Antonio to the NBA Finals.
Basically, Wembanyama will soon be considered the best player in the league — if he’s not already. And with that distinction, voters will be eager to give Wembanyama his first regular-season MVP trophy.
I thought voters were a bit too eager to anoint Wembanyama last year. For a moment, he emerged as a viable contender to Gilgeous-Alexander after entering the year with +1100 odds. Wembanyama was a force when he was on the floor, averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks per game. But he also only played 64 contests (55 starts), logging 1,866 total minutes.
For comparison, Gilgeous-Alexander played 2,259 minutes, and Jokić registered 2,265 minutes.
I’d be surprised if the Spurs are as careful with Wembanyama’s minutes next year, but his health has been a consistent storyline in his young career. Even if he starts as the favorite and is my pick to win the MVP award, other contenders could keep pressure on him to stay on the floor. That makes the NBA MVP market much more intriguing than it has been in recent seasons.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić will remain among the top candidates next year. Gilgeous-Alexander will try to become the fourth player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP awards, while Jokić is still searching for his fourth career trophy.
Luka Donćić, Jalen Brunson, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards are all potential threats to win their first MVP award. But they’d likely need a lot of help to earn enough voting support.
Prediction: Victor Wembanyama
NBA MVP Voting 2026
| Player | Team | Vote Pts | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | 939 | 83 |
| Nikola Jokić | DEN | 634 | 10 |
| Victor Wembanyama | SAS | 569 | 5 |
| Luka Donćić | LAL | 250 | 0 |
| Cade Cunningham | DET | 117 | 2 |
| Jaylen Brown | BOS | 89 | 0 |
| Kawhi Leonard | LAC | 1 | 0 |
| Donovan Mitchell | CLE | 1 | 0 |
List of Past NBA MVP Winners
| Year | Winner | Team |
| 2026 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) | Thunder |
| 2025 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder |
| 2024 | Nikola Jokic (3) | Nuggets |
| 2023 | Joel Embiid | 76ers |
| 2022 | Nikola Jokic (2) | Nuggets |
| 2021 | Nikola Jokic | Nuggets |
| 2020 | Giannis Antetokounmpo (2) | Bucks |
| 2019 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks |
| 2018 | James Harden | Rockets |
| 2017 | Russell Westbrook | Thunder |
| 2016 | Stephen Curry (2) | Warriors |
| 2015 | Stephen Curry | Warriors |
| 2014 | Kevin Durant | Thunder |
| 2013 | LeBron James (4) | Heat |
| 2012 | LeBron James (3) | Heat |
| 2011 | Derrick Rose | Bulls |
| 2010 | LeBron James (2) | Cavaliers |
| 2009 | LeBron James | Cavaliers |
| 2008 | Kobe Bryant | Lakers |
| 2007 | Dirk Nowitzki | Mavericks |
| 2006 | Steve Nash (2) | Suns |
| 2005 | Steve Nash | Suns |
| 2004 | Kevin Garnett | Timberwolves |
| 2003 | Tim Duncan (2) | Spurs |
| 2002 | Tim Duncan | Spurs |
| 2001 | Allen Iverson | 76ers |
| 2000 | Shaquille O'Neal | Lakers |
| 1999 | Karl Malone (2) | Jazz |
| 1998 | Michael Jordan (5) | Bulls |
| 1997 | Karl Malone | Jazz |
| 1996 | Michael Jordan (4) | Bulls |
| 1995 | David Robinson | Spurs |
| 1994 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Rockets |
| 1993 | Charles Barkley | Suns |
| 1992 | Michael Jordan (3) | Bulls |
| 1991 | Michael Jordan (2) | Bulls |
| 1990 | Magic Johnson (3) | Lakers |
| 1989 | Magic Johnson (2) | Lakers |
| 1988 | Michael Jordan | Bulls |
| 1987 | Magic Johnson | Lakers |
| 1986 | Larry Bird (3) | Celtics |
| 1985 | Larry Bird (2) | Celtics |
| 1984 | Larry Bird | Celtics |
| 1983 | Moses Malone (3) | 76ers |
| 1982 | Moses Malone (2) | Rockets |
| 1981 | Julius Erving | 76ers |
| 1980 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) | Lakers |
| 1979 | Moses Malone | Rockets |
| 1978 | Bill Walton | Trail Blazers |
| 1977 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5) | Lakers |
| 1976 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (4) | Lakers |
| 1975 | Bob McAdoo | Braves |
| 1974 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3) | Bucks |
| 1973 | Dave Cowens | Celtics |
| 1972 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2) | Bucks |
| 1971 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Bucks |
| 1970 | Willis Reed | Knicks |
| 1969 | Wes Unseld | Bullets |
| 1968 | Wilt Chamberlain (4) | 76ers |
| 1967 | Wilt Chamberlain (3) | 76ers |
| 1966 | Wilt Chamberlain (2) | 76ers |
| 1965 | Bill Russell (5) | Celtics |
| 1964 | Oscar Robertson | Royals |
| 1963 | Bill Russell (4) | Celtics |
| 1962 | Bill Russell (3) | Celtics |
| 1961 | Bill Russell (2) | Celtics |
| 1960 | Wilt Chamberlain | Warriors |
| 1959 | Bob Pettit (2) | Hawks |
| 1958 | Bill Russell | Celtics |
| 1957 | Bob Cousy | Celtics |
| 1956 | Bob Pettit | Hawks |
Who is the Youngest NBA MVP?
Derrick Rose is the youngest player to be named NBA MVP, winning the award at 22 years old during the 2008-09 season. We, Unseld is the only other player to win an NBA MVP trophy at 22, accomplishing the feat in 1968-69.
List of NBA Players to Win 3 Straight MVP Awards
Three players in NBA history have won the league’s MVP award in three consecutive seasons:
- Bill Russell (1961, 1962, 1963)
- Wilt Chamberlain (1966, 1967, 1968)
- Larry Bird (1984, 1985, 1986)
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