The 2025-26 MVP Marathon: A Season of Shifts and Superstars
Nikola Jokić owned the top spot for nearly half the season, holding the #1 rank consistently from Week 4 through Week 12.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over the leaderboard in Week 13 and held a commanding lead for nine consecutive weeks, proving his status as a premier superstar.
Victor Wembanyama made a historic late-season push, climbing from the bottom of the Top 5 to the #1 spot in Weeks 23 and 24.
Luka Dončić has been the most consistent "chaser," appearing in the Top 5 in every single week of the ladder's release.
Cade Cunningham emerged as a serious contender mid-season, peaking at #3 in Week 19 and proving he belongs among the elite.
Giannis Antetokounmpo started strong in the Top 3 but eventually fell out of the Top 5 entirely after Week 7.
Jaylen Brown has been a frequent "anchor" in the #5 spot, reappearing late in the season (Weeks 23-24) to keep the Celtics represented.
For much of the year, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić swapped the #1 and #2 spots, creating a two-man race before the late-season shakeups.