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Reigning Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among 10 names to watch in 2025-26.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Download the NBA App<\/a> Many are called, few are chosen. Just one, actually.<\/p>\n That would be the Kia Most Valuable Player each NBA season<\/a>, the chance to be crowned the most significant player in the game, an honor that virtually punches a Hall of Fame ticket, grants elevation among the greats, and, last but not least, spawns untold riches for untold years.<\/p>\n There are no set guidelines to qualify for the award, although the following will make the panel of voters swoon: Finish among the league\u2019s top scorers, rebounders or in assists or blocks (or, better yet, a combination of the above). Be the centerpiece on a 50-game winner (or close enough) and threaten to snatch a top seed in the conference. Ace the endurance test (and play at least 65 games) and it also helps to sell tickets and boost TV ratings.<\/p>\n That\u2019s all. Pretty simple.<\/p>\n Just not easy.<\/p>\n With the 2025-26 season ready to reveal itself, the MVP candidates will be placed in two categories: the usual suspects \u2026 and the potential surprises. In most seasons, two serious candidates will distance themselves from the pack by the final month. Then it\u2019s up to the eventual winner to stand up.<\/p>\n This time, will there be drama like last season<\/a> \u2014 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Joki\u0107 generated plenty of heated debate \u2014 or a clear-cut favorite, like the seasons in which Stephen Curry (the only unanimous winner) and LeBron James won?<\/p>\n Here is NBA.com\u2019s preseason MVP Watch, with 10 candidates, listed alphabetically, who\u2019ll most likely arm wrestle for the most cherished individual award in hoops (listing subject to change, of course):<\/p>\n Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n Check out some of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s best dunks from 2024-25.<\/p>\n One of the prerequisites for an MVP candidate is to do heavy lifting, and for his sake, Antetokounmpo better bring a strong back and knees this season. For only the second time since 2018, he won\u2019t enter the season with an All-Star teammate. Therefore, there\u2019s little debate that turning the 2025-26 Bucks into contenders will be Antetokounmpo\u2019s biggest challenge.<\/p>\n And that ties directly into his MVP chances. The two-time winner and only player to finish top-four in the voting in each of the last seven seasons will certainly have the necessary big numbers to strengthen his case. Antetokounmpo, the primary scoring option on a team that lacks a strong No. 2 scorer, should reach double figures in rebounding for a ninth straight season and he remains a force defensively. But where will the Bucks sit at season\u2019s end?<\/p>\n Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks<\/p>\n He\u2019s among the league\u2019s best scoring point guards<\/a> who bails out his team in the clutch<\/a>, plays in the biggest media market for a projected contender. That describes Brunson and his expected qualifications for this award, all of which should allow him to collect votes. Two seasons ago, he finished fourth<\/a> in the voting, ahead of Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards.<\/p>\n This season, Brunson plays for a new coach, but will that help (or hurt) his chances? New Knicks head coach Mike Brown embraces a share-the-ball philosophy, which means there could be fewer touches for Brunson. In that sense, Brunson could polish his passing and hike his assist totals to juice his MVP argument.<\/p>\n Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons<\/p>\n With a breakout season freshly behind him, Cunningham now embarks on new adventures and goals, all of which are attainable. Can the Pistons win 50 games and spark a basketball renaissance in Detroit? Can Cunningham improve on the 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game in 2024-25? Yes and yes.<\/p>\n He\u2019s new to this MVP game, though, and players in his position often find themselves needing some additional proof of authenticity beyond one standout season. Cunningham is certainly capable of shattering that theory, especially if the Pistons pull a surprise and spend a good portion of the season in the East attic.<\/p>\n Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n Of all the \u201cuncs\u201d who continue to thrive in the league deep into their 30s, Curry brings a solid argument for being the leader of that rat pack and therefore the most qualified to steal an MVP. He remains a certified 3-point beast and often is the most dangerous scorer on the floor, regardless of whom the Warriors are playing that night.<\/p>\n The two-time MVP will battle a pair of forces: can he maintain a high level of shooting efficiency at age 37, and will the Warriors generate enough wins? Neither were issues over much of the previous decade, but this ain\u2019t 2015 anymore, either.<\/p>\n Luka Don\u010di\u0107, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n Luka Don\u010di\u0107 says he’s looking forward to his first full season with the Lakers.<\/p>\n Of all the candidates who\u2019ve never won MVP, he\u2019s the unofficial favorite to get his first. You might suggest \u201cit\u2019s his turn,\u201d even though voters cringe at that sentiment. Don\u010di\u0107 is certainly capable of making it an easy decision for voters; that\u2019s how talented he is offensively \u2014 and maybe he\u2019s improved defensively? \u2014 and how much is on the line for him in 2025-26.<\/p>\n Energized by an offseason of whipping himself into the best shape of his life, and anxiously awaiting a full season with the Lakers, there\u2019s every reason to look favorably in Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s direction should he and the Lakers prosper.<\/p>\n Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves<\/p>\n Is this the year? Much like Don\u010di\u0107, the 24-year-old Edwards seems poised to grab this award at least once in his career. His game continues to mature, all while his appetite for success grows. Edwards makes no secret of his desire to be the best player in the game and he\u2019s certainly in the top-10 discussion.<\/p>\n Edwards has taken the Wolves to back-to-back conference finals trips, but this is a regular-season award. That means it\u2019ll help his case if the Wolves finish top three in a very competitive West and if Edwards finishes among the NBA\u2019s scoring leaders while also enhancing his other skills and defense.<\/p>\n Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talks about his hoops journey, his rise to Kia MVP status and more on ‘Pass the Rock.’<\/p>\n How do you top a scoring title, All-Star starter, first team All-NBA, Finals MVP and a championship? Shai doesn\u2019t need to run the table again to go back-to-back MVPs; that\u2019s the good news. Even better, he\u2019s firmly in his prime and capable of a solid follow-up to 2024 which will generate votes and serious consideration for the award.<\/p>\n Even better-better, OKC is coming off 68 wins and almost assured of a top-two or three finish in the West standings, which means Shai will have the support of team success. Also in his favor: The last 15 years produced four back-to-back winners \u2014 LeBron James, Giannis, Curry and Nikola Joki\u0107 \u2014 so the \u201cvoter fatigue\u201d claim is mostly a myth.<\/p>\n Nikola Joki\u0107, Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n Check out some of the best plays from Nikola Joki\u0107 during the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n The sheer individual dominance is impressive and legendary \u2014 Joki\u0107 has three MVPs since 2021<\/a> and finished runner-up in the voting the two seasons he didn\u2019t win. He remains in his prime and on his A-game (he averaged a triple-double last season and is the only center to do so) and was top-three in scoring, rebounds and assists in 2024-25<\/a>.<\/p>\n If the prediction from NBA general managers in our GM survey<\/a> proves true, Joki\u0107 will join a select company (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan and James) and win his fourth MVP. At this point, the worst that could happen is another runner-up spot.<\/p>\n Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers<\/p>\n He\u2019s already an established star and the unquestioned leader of the post-LeBron Cavaliers. He takes over games, posts solid numbers and has shown he can elevate his team to the East\u2019s upper crust. All of that will fortify his MVP candidacy and include him in the top-five conversation throughout much of the season.<\/p>\n What Mitchell must convince everyone is that he\u2019s beyond being merely good. He\u2019ll need to take the next step to generate some best-in-the-game type-chatter. That seems a bit ambitious for a player with one All-NBA First Team nod to his name, but its not out of the question.<\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n He has recovered from a blood clot that canceled his 2024-25 season after 46 games and is ready to resume his growth. Some of that growth happened over the summer as he\u2019s now listed at 7-foot-5, giving him another inch in height and a leg up on the competition. His potential and ceiling remain frightening at age 21 (the youngest MVP winners are Derrick Rose and Wes Unseld at 22).<\/p>\n The ability to shoot with range, run the floor, deftly dribble for his height and block shots makes him the ultimate freak. The betting money is that Wemby will win this award at least once in his career. Whether it starts now will rest with a handful of factors: Will the Spurs morsel his minutes and games, will the team win enough games, and will he have big enough numbers across the board (25-plus scoring, 10-plus rebounds, two-plus blocks, etc.) to compete with the top candidates?<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com<\/a>, find his archive here<\/a> and follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Reigning Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among 10 names to watch in 2025-26. \u2022\u00a0Download the NBA App\u2022\u00a0Amex 2025-26…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":80812,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[85,46,56351,105],"class_list":{"0":"post-80811","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-il","9":"tag-israel","10":"tag-kia-mvp-ladder","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80811\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u2022\u00a0Amex 2025-26 Season Preview<\/a><\/p>\n