The Clutch Report

MVP Race

The MVP (Most Valuable Player) race is an annual, season-long competition in professional sports—most prominently in the NBA—that highlights the top performers who combine elite individual statistics with high-level team success. As the season progresses, media narratives, advanced analytics, and "ladder" rankings track which player is having the most impactful season, often balancing the "best player on the best team" philosophy against historic individual numbers. The race often narrows down to a few top contenders, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Luka Dončić in the 2025-26 season, who are evaluated on their consistency and ability to elevate their team, particularly if they are playing for top-seeded franchises.

Ultimately, the MVP is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who submit ranked ballots at the end of the regular season, with points assigned to first through fifth-place votes. This voting structure can create a "groupthink" scenario or lead to dramatic photo finishes, where the winner is determined by who has the most compelling narrative, such as leading a surprise contender to 50 wins or sustaining elite efficiency while battling injuries. The race is never finalized until the votes are counted, as different voters prioritize different metrics, such as raw talent versus team record

Top 7 MVP candidates

As the 2026 MVP race comes down to the wire, only one thing is certain: nobody’s spot is safe in this photo finish.
Players	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	Victor Wembanyama	Nikola Jokić	Luka Dončić	Cade Cunningham	Jaylen Brown	Jalen Johnson
PPG	30.1	21.4	26.4	33.9	22.7	23.0	16.0
APG	6.2	3.9	9.0	9.8	7.5	3.6	3.6
RPG	5.5	10.6	12.4	9.2	4.3	5.5	8.7
MPG	34.0	29.7	34.6	37.5	33.5	33.5	33.7
FG%	53.5%	46.5%	58.3%	48.7%	44.9%	49.9%	51.1%