March 12, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET
Each NBA team has fewer than 20 games remaining on its 2025-26 regular season schedule, and playoff races are tightening.
It also means players jostling for positioning in the battle for Most Valuable Player are running out of time to make their cases. And, given the recent performance of the player atop this list, it may already be too late.
This last stretch of season also presents a prime chance for marquee matchups. Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets will face Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs (twice) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder once in their final five games.
This week, Thursday, March 12, OKC will host Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics. It should all make for compelling viewing down the stretch.
Here’s the latest iteration of the USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings:
USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings
5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
It appears that the return of Jayson Tatum won’t negatively impact Brown’s argument for MVP, though it is still too early. The bigger issue is the ground needed to make up and the recent play of players atop this list. Either way, Brown’s career highs in points (28.3), rebounds (7.1) and assists (5.1) show the impact he has had this season.
Last week: fifth
4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
They snapped their first four-game losing streak of the season, but a recent 10-point performance March 3 against the Cavaliers hurts his case, even though he did generate 14 assists. Cunningham continues to be one of the breakout stars of the season and Detroit’s offense runs through him. That, however, won’t be enough.
Last week: second
3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
He has been posting monster games lately and the Spurs have lost just a single game since Feb. 1. Wembanyama is the catalyst for San Antonio’s surge, and he has been showing up in massive games. Just this week, he dropped 39 and 11 in a win over the Celtics, which came after a 29 and 8 (with 4 blocks) against the Rockets. His 38-point, 16-rebound, 5-block game against the Pistons, however, a 15-point San Antonio victory, might have been the most complete game of his career.
Last week: fourth
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
He has been on an absolute tear lately and leads the NBA with 24 triple-doubles. In fact, he’s still averaging one, putting up 28.9 points, an NBA-best 12.5 rebounds and an NBA-best 10.3 assists per game. In any other season, that would easily clear the production necessary to win him the award. But the Nuggets have sputtered recently, and he’s in a delicate spot with his games played; if he misses more than one game through Denver’s remaining 17, he’ll become ineligible for postseason awards.
Last week: third
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
SGA, for all intents and purposes, all but ended the race with his 35-point, 15-assist, 9-rebound masterpiece Monday, March 9 against the Nuggets. In that game, Gilgeous-Alexander drained a game-winning 3 and provided yet another MVP moment, which is something voters value when making their determination. And, perhaps most impressively, Gilgeous-Alexander is doing this as the Thunder continue to face injury issues. As long as he maintains his 65-game eligibility, he should be on track to claim his second consecutive MVP.
Last week: first