Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP 2026

The Milwaukee Bucks roster is criticized for its lack of talent and depth, being considered potentially the weakest team in the league without Giannis Antetokounmpo – worse than Utah, Brooklyn, and Washington.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's superstar performances, exemplified by stats like 41-23-12, are taken for granted. His exceptional talent is expected to stand out even more this season because the supporting cast around him is viewed as the weakest he has ever had.

The writer predicts that in the 2026 season, Giannis will deliver his typical elite performance (at least 30 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 1 steal per game). They further imagine that the relative weakness of the Eastern Conference could allow the Bucks to finish in the top 4, acknowledging this requires more imagination but is possible.

Given this scenario, the writer argues Giannis would be the clear MVP frontrunner for 2026. They dismiss other potential candidates: Nikola Jokic (already has 3 MVPs, needs 60+ wins), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (won in 2024, repeating same stats won't suffice), Luka Dončić (will share responsibilities with LeBron James), and Victor Wembanyama (Spurs would need a massive improvement like the 2025 Rockets). The writer concludes that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the 2026 MVP, labeling this a "waayyyy too early" prediction.