These 5 Players Could Stand in the Way of SGA Winning Back-to-Back MVPs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an outstanding 2024-25 NBA season, winning both the Western Conference MVP and NBA Finals MVP while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first franchise championship. He achieved this after finishing in the top five of MVP voting for the past two years, including a runner-up position in 2024. His season averages were 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 block per game, with shooting percentages of 51.9% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range, earning him the Michael Jordan Trophy.

At 27 years old and in the prime of his career, Gilgeous-Alexander is well-positioned to contend for another MVP award in the 2025-26 season, especially with the Thunder expected to remain one of the top teams in the NBA. However, he will face strong competition from other talented players across the league.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a key challenger; in his 12th NBA season, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game with 60.1% field goal shooting. After finishing third in MVP voting last year and with roster changes in Milwaukee, he may need to increase his scoring output in 2025-26.

Luka Doncic, who was traded to the Lakers mid-season, has had a full offseason to integrate with his new team. Last season, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 45% from the field and 36.8% from three-point range. Reportedly in better shape, he will need to deliver high numbers for the Lakers to be competitive.

Anthony Edwards, entering his sixth season, has led his team to the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive years. In 2024-25, he averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, with 44.7% field goal and 39.5% three-point shooting on over 10 attempts per game. If he continues to improve, he will be a strong MVP candidate.

Nikola Jokic is another formidable contender, having won three of the last five MVP awards and finished as runner-up twice, including last season. He averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game with 57.6% field goal and 41.7% three-point shooting. His consistent high performance makes him a perennial threat for the award.