The NBA season has already reached the halfway point, and the All-Star break is just around the corner. With the injuries that occurred in last year’s postseason and at the beginning of this season, other stars are getting more recognition. Keeping that in mind, here are the current top-five NBA MVP candidates.
Yes, other stars have made their case, but some things have also remained the same. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the number one seed again, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues as the driving force. SGA is averaging 32.1 points a night, along with six assists, while remaining as one of the most efficient players in the league.
Gilgeous-Alexander is having close to a 50/40/90 season, with the latter two statistics currently at 39.4 and 89.2, respectively. Only nine players in NBA history have achieved that feat, so MVP voters would likely take that into strong consideration. It would not be surprising to see SGA as a back-to-back NBA MVP, all things considered.
It is astounding to see the Detroit Pistons at the top of the Eastern Conference, considering they finished dead last in the NBA two years ago. After breaking the five-year playoff drought and finishing sixth in 2024-25, the Pistons now look like a legit finals contender.
Cade Cunningham continues to lead the way for this young Detroit squad, averaging 25 points, nearly ten assists, and almost six rebounds. Even during the times when his shot struggles, Cunningham has found ways to impact the game. The recent matchup against the Boston Celtics exemplifies this, as he shot 25 percent from the field but had 14 assists, two blocks, and a steal.
The Pistons have a somewhat commanding five-game lead in the conference. If Detroit ultimately stays there, the man who made his first All-NBA team last season could capture his first MVP this year.
When Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in the second round of last year’s playoffs, many predicted that Boston would be a play-in team at best in 2025-26. Former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown has not had any of that, as Boston sits at second in the East despite being without their best player, arguably. His numbers are up across the board, putting up 29.6 PPG (seven more than last year), almost seven boards, and five assists.
The increased workload has not hurt Brown’s efficiency, either, as his field goal percentage is up two points despite the five extra shot attempts per game. This season is probably the best version of Brown to date, and surely the MVP voters have taken notice.
It feels like a matter of when, instead of if, Luka Dončić will win an MVP. In a season where LeBron James and Austin Reaves have both missed a significant amount of action, Dončić has remained the constant. The former NBA scoring champion is on pace to do that once again, averaging 33.8 PPG, along with 8.8 assists and 7.8 rebounds.
Dončić is clearly on a mission after the shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers last season. It may have been the kick in the butt that he needed, as some questioned his commitment due to his weight. Dončić is now in the best shape he has been in in quite some time. The Lakers are also currently a top-five team in the West despite LeBron and Reaves not playing together most of the year. Dončić has a strong case for taking home MVP honors.
The Philadelphia 76ers are another team that has suffered significant injuries in the first half of the NBA season. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr. have all missed at least 20 games, but Tyrese Maxey has held down the fort. Maxey is averaging nearly 30 points, almost seven assists, and is also second in steals at two per game. The 76ers are currently the sixth seed and are just a handful of games over .500, but without Maxey, this squad would likely be a lottery team.
It would not be shocking if Embiid and George are in and out of the lineup for the entire regular season. The injuries continue to pile up for George in the later stages of his career, and Embiid, obviously, has never been able to stay healthy. If Maxey can keep the 76ers in the top six with the two other stars possibly missing half the season, he should earn his share of MVP votes.
There are some glaring omissions from the list, but typical MVP candidates like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are unlikely to meet the 65-game minimum requirement. The same is true for the young San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who has already missed 14 of the 17 games allowed.
Other players considered for that fifth spot were Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards. Those two are also having excellent seasons again, but with all the injuries in Philly, I believe Maxey should receive more consideration as it stands.
Another player to keep an eye on, probably not this year but down the line, is Jalen Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks. The fifth-year man from Duke is averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds, and eight assists. Johnson should be making his All-Star debut this year, with perhaps greater achievements down the line if the Hawks become serious contenders again.
Making these selections is always challenging because there is such high-level talent in the NBA. Additionally, it is not just about the numbers, but also team success and the talent around a player. Having a team in contention that may be close to the bottom of the barrel without you is as valuable as it gets. Things could change as the season progresses, of course, but as of now, these are my top-five NBA MVP candidates.
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