NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) 2025-26 Season: NBA Cup MVP Storms into Top 5 as Luka Doncic Slips to Fourth! 

The conclusion of the NBA Cup brings much-needed clarity to the state of the league’s best teams. The New York Knicks continue to show why they should be the East favorites alongside Detroit with a gritty win over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup Final. And Jalen Brunson finally gets a spot on our NBA MVP Power Rankings Ladder.

What else is new? Shai Gilegous-Alexander’s team finally fell in the clutch, and it looks as though other teams will be looking to try to emulate what the Spurs did. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets continue to rise up and now sit 4.5 games behind the Thunder. Luka Doncic’s shooting woes continue, and the Lakers have had a rather up-and-down week.

Elsewhere, in the East, the Detroit Pistons continue their reign atop the standings, but the Knicks have come charging in. Cade Cunningham is still proving to us why he is a superstar with a statement game against the Boston Celtics, and Jalen Brunson received tons of MVP shouts in the NBA Cup Finals. Tyrese Maxey continues to score at will and will be looking to help the 76ers climb back up. So who falls? Who rises?

Who just missed out?

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

6. Tyrese Maxey (Last Week’s Rank: 5th)

7. Victor Wembanyama (Last Week’s Rank: NA) [NEW]

8. Alperen Sengun: (Last Week’s Rank: 8th)

9. Donovan Mitchell (Last Week’s Rank: 9th)

10. Jaylen Brown: (Last Week’s Rank: NA) [NEW]

Sportskeeda NBA MVP Power Rankings 2025-26 Season: Latest Top 5 After Week 5

5. Jalen Brunson [NEW]

Previous Ranking: — 6th

PER: 22.43 | 60.4 TS% | Team record: 18-7 | 28.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, 3.1 RPG, 0.7 SPG, & 0.1 BPG

Jalen Brunson, the newest NBA Cup MVP, storms his way into our top five. Averaging 33.7 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 55% from the field, there was no denying that his game elevated the New York Knicks to win their first silverware in 52 years. He also clipped the ball at 50% from three-point land.

His gameplay has been phenomenal over the last few weeks, and he has been climbing up the ladder steadily. As of right now, he is one of three players to average double digits in the first quarter. He is also top 10 in scoring this year, despite being 22nd in free throw attempts. There is a fair chance he might even overtake the player in fourth place on our MVP ladder.

One specific stat that backs his MVP case

Jalen Brunson currently has the second-highest scoring average in Knicks history.

4. Luka Doncic

Previous Ranking: — 2nd

PER: 27.72 | 60.8 TS% | Team record: 18-7 | 34.7 PPG, 8.8 APG, 8.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG, & 0.6 BPG

Like we said last week, there was every reason to place Luka Doncic fourth on our MVP ladder, and this week, we have done exactly that. A tough loss vs the Spurs saw him drop just 35-8-6, pale by his standards. Then he followed it up with a stinker, shooting 2 of 14 from three, showing that his regression from behind the arc is truly a thing.

He is shooting a career low 32% from three, and for a player who is first in 3PA, that is worrying. The Lakers were very lucky to walk away with a win vs the Phoenix Suns thanks to key defensive efforts. Luka’s game has been a little worrying.

Despite that being said, he is still the scoring leader, and he is still nearly averaging an eye-watering 35-9-9. The birth of his second daughter is certainly playing a part in his health and mental tenacity; however, it is only a matter of time before we see him at his best in a busy winter period.

One specific stat that backs his MVP case

Aside from leading the league in field goals at the rim, he has only scored less than 30 once in the last 10 games. Getting buckets at will.

3. Cade Cunningham

Previous Ranking: — 4th

PER: 22.23 | 56.2 TS% | Team record: 21-5 | 27.5 PPG, 9.3 APG, 6.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG, & 0.8 BPG

Cade Cunningham just showed us why he is a superstar in a masterclass vs the Boston Celtics. He put up his sixth 30-point, 10-assist game, and Detroit is 5-1 in those games. He shot 6 of 10 from three-point land, and it is clear he is finding his groove from beyond the arc. Aside from the shooting and scoring prowess, his two-way impact cannot be understated.

He leads the league in 15-point, five-assist, two-block, and two-steal games. As a primary defender, he leads the league with a 40.8% Defended FG%. Cunningham has also held shooters to 130 of 319 attempts. He is not a stowaway on the second-best defensive team in the league.

The Smooth Operator continues to work his magic and it is clear that he is the best guard in the East as of this moment.

One specific stat that backs his MVP case

Cade Cunningham leads the league in 30-point, 10-assist games in the league.

2. Nikola Jokic

Previous Ranking: — 3rd

PER: 36.00 | 72.0 TS% | Team record: 19-7 | 29.2 PPG, 11.0 APG, 12.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG, & 0.8 BPG

Nikola Jokic climbs back to second on our 2025-26 NBA MVP power rankings ladder, thanks to a stupendous performance vs the Houston Rockets. With his latest win, he now leads the league in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and wins this decade. There is no doubt he has dominated the 20s, but to do it with such ferocity is something else.

He is also the 100th percentile shot maker in this league. Currently, he sits second on our list, and he will likely do so at the end of the season. If he does, he would become only the third player ever, behind Larry Bird and Bill Russell, to finish in the top two for six seasons straight!

He is still shooting well above average, and continues to maintain an absurd 61-43-84 splits. His latest triple-double was no.100 since the start of the 2022-23 season. That would mean he has put up a triple-double in over 40% of the games in the last four seasons.

One specific stat that backs his MVP case

Nikola Jokic has made the third most threes by a center this season. Only adding more lore to his myth.

1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Previous Ranking: — 1st

PER: 33.71 | 68.6 TS% | Team record: 24-2 | 32.4 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.4 SPG, & 0.7 BPG

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a misstep for the first time in weeks, and it wasn’t even a big one. It was his team that fell victim to a returning Victor Wembanyama. Their 16-win streak has been snapped, and their formidable defense was met by an even tougher one from San Antonio.

Nevertheless, Gilegous-Alexander is second in scoring. He continues to put up 20 points effortlessly, and it will take some stopping. Despite some criticism about the way he plays the game, Dwyane Wade has come out in support. He is inching closer to the fabled 40-50-90 club and a teeny improvement on his free-throw efficiency will get him past the line.

He continues to hold ground on his averages despite playing the fewest minutes since his rookie season. Just a baffling pillar of efficiency and that is why he retains the no.1 spot on our 2025-26 NBA MVP power rankings.

One specific stat that backs his MVP case

Shai Gilegous-Alexander is still averaging nearly one point per minute. It would be the second-highest behind Wilt Chamberlain’s record in 1962.

Edited by Jeet Pukhrambam