2025-26 NBA MVP Ladder, Race, Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Nikola Jokic overtaking SGA

The NBA’s MVP race has a new leader in the clubhouse, and it’s a familiar face, Nikola Jokic. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City lost to San Antonio on Christmas Day, marking a third-straight loss to the Spurs, and Denver’s epic OT win on the back of Jokic’s record-breaking Christmas performance — it’s quite easy to see why the odds have shifted.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Advertisement

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+120)

Points Per Game: 29.8 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.1 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 11.0 (1st)

We have a new No. 1 in the building and no surprise, it’s Nikola Jokic! His stock has been trending alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s as the No. 2 option all season long and it will likely go back-and-forth a few more times. However, this is Jokic’s time to be the leader.

The Joker went bananas with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists in a 142-138 OT win versus Minnesota on Christmas Day. Denver won that game despite being down three starters and what’s more impressive was Jokic scoring 18 points in OT! Those 18 OT points broke Steph Curry’s record of 17 points in 2016.

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+125)

Advertisement

Points Per Game: 32.1 (2nd)
Assists Per Game: 6.5 (17th)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.9 RPG (89th)

The Thunder have dropped back-to-back games for the first time all season, plus lost three of the past four, and are 2-4 over the previous six. Nothing has gone right for the Thunder, especially if it includes the Spurs who beat them three times over the last six games.

It’s hard to defend the Thunder as the best team right now or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the rightful MVP favorite. SGA is still playing at an extremely high level, scoring 30 points in four of the past five, shooting at ridiculous clips, but the winning hasn’t come lately, so the door is open for Nikola Jokic and Denver.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo

3. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+700)

Advertisement

Points Per Game: 33.7 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 8.7…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2025-26-nba-mvp-ladder-210006971.html

Author :

Publish date : 2025-12-26 21:00:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.