The fight for the 2026-2027 NBA MVP: could it be the year of Wembanyama or Doncic?

The NBA starts in exactly one week with a Pistons – Celtics, a Knicks – Sixers and a Spurs – Thunder. And while guessing the champion is a very complicated task in this NBA that has become so unpredictable –eight champions in the last eight years – the easier and simpler it is to predict who can win the MVP.

The incomparable honor of being chosen best player in the world It is only reserved for the privileged few. And while some of them want to repeat, there are those who have earned the right to enter such an exclusive club. These are the NBA MVP candidates for this imminent 2026-2027 season.

Canada’s reigning double MVP after his 2025 and 2026 awards, will attempt what no one has achieved since Larry Bird in 1986: win three MVPs in a row.

Since then, a considerable number of legends have remained in the attempt in a list with Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Tim Duncan, SGA countryman Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.

The Thunder star, king of the middle distance, is at his peak at his 28 years and another spectacular year can be marked with motivation through the roof. And what Wembanyama and his Spurs did to keep OKC from its second consecutive Conference Finals ring still hurts.

But Shai faces the handicap of fatigue and boredom of voting journalists from always seeing the same one winning the MVP. Let’s see to what extent Aday Mara can give you a hand in this kind of impossible mission for 40 years.

Gilgeous-Alexander may be the best in the world based on his reigning MVP status, but it is indisputable that the player with the most overall offensive impact remains Nikola Jokic.

The MVP of 2021, 2022 and 2024 He produces points en masse in many ways for himself but also for others and his vision of the game is the pillar on which the Denver Nuggets’ dynamic system is based.

The Serbian center 31 years can claim with complete legitimacy that he owns at least one of the two MVPs of 2023 and 2025, which went to Joel Embiid and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, benefiting from strong media campaigns in the United States.

The Joker was harmed by the aforementioned boredom effect, which has deprived him of the trilogy of MVPs in a row. In any case, a fourth award would put him in the club of the four trophies of Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James.

The Balkan skated against the Timberwolves and Rudy Gobert in the last playoffs, but here what is judged is the regular season and there is nothing to suggest that another spectacular year will not be marked.

He comes from two seasons averaging a triple-double and more is impossible to do. It depends on the voters.

Jokic is the player with the most influence in attack, but it is irrefutable that the player with the most impact in general on both sides of the court is already Victor Wembanyama at his 22 years.

The French unicorn already placed third in the MVP race last year, when he claimed that he deserved the award for his dominance in attack and defense.

In fact, it has already been proclaimed Defender of the Year in an award that he promises to collect like anyone else, surpassing the four trophies of his compatriot Rudy Gobert, Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo.

With all the offensive weight it has, Wemby still has room for improvement such as its shot, its selection and its play in the post. The Frenchman has also talked about slowing down the game to improve as a creator from the header.

The Frenchman’s motivation is on fire: the defeat in the Finals against the Knicks It still stings.

Luka Doncic’s name has always been a perennial one in the MVP conversation since he practically arrived in the NBA.

However, his claim to the most precious award has always been a constant yes but no for one reason or another, whether because there have been better ones or due to a lack of consistency during the season. He has ‘only’ been a finalist for the MVP on one occasion (in 2024) and it is no secret that the ‘shock’ that the transfer of the Mavericks It hasn’t helped the Lakers either.

But Doncic this year seems to have the best conditions for the desired trophy, in shape, already adapted to Los Angeles and with a team in the Lakers built exclusively for him after the departure of LeBron James.

One of the areas to improve for the 27-year-old point guard is his loss ratio -4 last year-, but also the vice of protesting to the referees and his defensive deficiencies. More than the referees and the defense itself, the importance of improving in these aspects for Luka in the face of the MVP lies in growing as a leader.

Closing the top-5 of big favorites is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is starting a new life in Miami. The one from Greek Freak is a name that cannot be forgotten as a double MVP winner (2019 and 2020).

Although a few years have passed since then, the Greek interior is at its peak. 31 years. Last season was one to forget for him between the Bucks’ disaster and the fact that injuries left him in just 36 games, the lowest of his NBA career.

But Anteto is excited and motivated by the refreshing reset that this new project in the Miami Heat represents for him along with Bam Adebayo.

However, the lack of quality and depth in the outside line that has remained after the price paid for Anteto may be a disadvantage for the double MVP to feel comfortable.

The top five favorites are international and it can be said that there is a considerable gap between the top-5 and the American stars that make up the rest of the top-10.

Still, there are several American hopes to end the US drought in an MVP who has not won since James Harden in 2018. And although Jalen Brunson is not the most favorite, it is fair and legitimate to mention the Knicks star in first place among Americans for being the leader of the current champions and MVP of the last Finals.

Brunson is the most unbalancing player right now in one-on-one with his virtuoso footwork and that treacherous low center of gravity with his 1.88so it is an obligation to take him into account at least among the MVP candidates even without receiving a single vote for the award last year.

It is difficult to imagine how the point guard can give even more, but, at 30 years old, this season he will have to take another step forward if possible in the Knicks’ defense of their title.

It is already known that every game for the champion feels like a final due to the motivation of the rivals to knock down the best team and these Knicks begin the defense of their championship weaker, without Mitchell Robinson and a Karl-Anthony Towns who is unhappy because the Knicks do not offer him the new contract he wants.

Cade Cunningham is undoubtedly the American candidate with the most options for the MVP. The star of Detroit Pistons He already placed fifth last year – the best placed American – he has ambitions to achieve the award and his 25 years recently completed has room for improvement.

The point guard can be more effective in shooting and improve his turnover ratio, which was 3.7 last season. But the Pistons star influences the game in different ways, with a vision of the game with which he almost averaged a double-double last year by finishing with 9.9 assists.

His leadership qualities are beyond doubt after withstanding the downpour when the Pistons they lost everything three seasons ago. Another thing is that the Pistons are liked enough by the American media to recognize Cunningham’s value as a player.

At 25 years old, Anthony Edwards is already one of the faces of the NBA and one of the top stars in the best league in the world, but like Cunningham, he raises his level every year, taking a step above all last year as a creator with more and better vision of the game in the attention of defenses.

The base of the Minnesota Timberwolves He is also one of the stars with the most impact on both sides of the court with his still underrated defense, an argument to think that he has MVP potential.

However, the question is whether the arrival of LaMelo Ball It can affect your individual mission to be the best. Playing alongside the former Hornets player will logically relieve him of pressure, but at the same time having less ball with Ball at his side can take away a bit of his individual prominence.

Tatum has already been in the conversation for the MVP and the transfer of Jaylen Brown It can open the doors wide for the Philadelphia 76ers to go for the coveted award.

Without the other Jay, ‘0’ will assume the reins as the sole leader of the Boston Celtics for the first time in his life and that will put him even more in the spotlight to shine. Logically, it will also be more pressure and responsibility for Tatum, who has to finish rediscovering himself after his serious injury since last season he returned in the final stretch.

The forward is in full maturity at his 28 years and influences the game on both sides of the court like few stars do. His ability to create for others among his many offensive attributes is still not valued enough. That vision of the game was key to winning the ring in the 2024 Finals against Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks.

Although with only one vote, Spida He appeared among the eight players voted for the MVP and it is fair to consider him for the award, at least as an outsider.

The star of the Cleveland Cavaliers He has already said that he deserves to be in the conversation in the past and, although what is judged here is the regular phase, last season he took a step forward leading a team some Conference Finals for the first time in his career.

Kenny Atkinson has highlighted the great shape in which Mitchell, who recently signed a 4-year, 273 million extension with Cleveland, has shown up for the preseason. Spida will have the help of James Harden and also Mario Hezonja.

Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard They also received votes last year, but it seems difficult for them to enter the fight for the MVP also taking into account that both will share the court with other stars after their transfers.

Brown will play alongside LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philly and Kawhi joins the Raptors where he will form a duo with Scottie Barnes.

For its part, the generational phenomenon Cooper Flagg He promises to excite in his second season in the NBA, but it still seems early to include the number 1 in the 2025 draft in the conversation for the MVP at just 19 years old. ¿And for you, who should win the MVP?