Few individual races in sports carry the prestige of the NBA’s MVP award, and after a historic back-to-back run, the 2026/27 race already looks stacked with genuine contenders.
## The Reigning Champion
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became just the 16th player in NBA history to win multiple MVP awards after his 2025-26 season, averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists as Oklahoma City posted the league’s best record at 64-18. A third consecutive award would place him in truly rare company.
## The Chasing Pack
Nikola Jokić, who averaged a triple-double last season with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists, finished as runner-up and remains a perennial threat. Victor Wembanyama, who helped lead San Antonio to a franchise-best 62 wins and a Finals appearance, rounds out last season’s top three and enters this year with an even higher ceiling.
## New Contenders to Watch
Philadelphia’s superteam experiment adds fresh intrigue. If LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid can stay healthy together, one of them could emerge as a genuine dark horse candidate, though voter fatigue around James at 41 years old makes that a longer shot. Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time former MVP now playing for Miami, also can’t be ruled out if his new partnership with Bam Adebayo clicks quickly.
## Why Team Success Matters
MVP voting has historically favored players on winning teams. Our NBA standings tracker shows how closely this year’s contenders are tied to teams positioned near the top of their conferences.
## Records Worth Knowing
Only 14 players in NBA history have won back-to-back MVPs, and just seven have done it since 2000. A third straight award for Gilgeous-Alexander would push him into a far smaller club still.
## What to Watch Going Forward
Efficiency, team record and health will all factor heavily into how this race develops. For the fuller picture on team-level storylines shaping these individual campaigns, our championship favorites breakdown digs deeper into the contenders.