It’s still way too early in the 2025/26 season to draw any conclusions about how the NBA’s Most Valuable Player race will play out, but through five weeks, several former MVPs are on pace to have the most productive season of their respective careers, writes Zach Kram of ESPN.
As Kram outlines, if the season ended today, the record for player efficiency rating (PER) in a single season held by Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (32.9) would be topped by three players: Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.5), Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34.6), and Jokic himself (37.0!).
Along similar lines, Jokic (72.8% true shooting), Gilgeous-Alexander (67.1%), and Antetokounmpo (66.2%) are on pace to have three of the four most efficient seasons ever for a player averaging at least 30 points per game, Kram writes.
Besides matching his career high with 29.6 points per game, Jokic is also averaging 12.8 rebounds and 11.1 assists per night, with an astonishing .626/.434/.853 shooting line. According to Kram, no player in NBA history has ever led the league in assists per game in one season and rebounds per game in another — Jokic has a legitimate chance to be the league leader in both categories this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been just as good, if not better, than he was in his NBA season a year ago, with averages of 32.2 PPG and 6.6 APG on .543/.412/.898 shooting. His Thunder have the best record in the NBA (17-1) and have been so dominant that their star point guard has frequently been able to call it a night early. Gilgeous-Alexander has logged just 52 fourth-quarter minutes so far this season, making his per-game statistical averages all the more impressive.
Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, is a two-time MVP, but he has never scored more points per game (31.2), handed out more assists per game (6.8), or shot a higher field goal percentage (62.9%) than he has so far this season. The Bucks have been 18.8 points per 100 possessions better when Giannis is on the court compared to when he’s not, which is even better than the Nuggets’ differential with and without Jokic (+18.3) or the Thunder’s differential with and without SGA (+13.2).
As great as those guys have been, this isn’t just a three-man race. Star guard Luka Doncic is currently the NBA’s scoring leader at 34.5 points per game, and he’s also contributing 8.9 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per contest for a 12-4 Lakers team that ranks third in the West.
Beyond Doncic, it’s probably a step down to the next tier of early MVP candidates, Kram acknowledges. But Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is averaging career highs in points (27.1) and assists (9.6) per game while leading the surprising Pistons to an East-best 15-2 record.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey is carrying Philadelphia on his back, scoring 33.0 points in 40.4 minutes per game on remarkable efficiency (.471/.415/.880).
Perennial All-Stars like Donovan Mitchell, Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson, and Anthony Edwards are also putting up massive numbers for winning teams.
And Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama (26.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 3.6 BPG) looked ready to join the MVP conversation before being sidelined by a calf strain.
We want to know what you think. Which early-season performance has impressed you the most? Do you view it as a three- or four-player race for this season’s MVP award, or will any of those players outside the Jokic/SGA/Giannis/Doncic quartet end up getting first-place votes?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
Jokic for me, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
They won’t give to Sga but he will take another finals mvp thank you.
Jaylen Brown’s doing heavy lifting for Celtics, he’s in the convo
Jokic, and it’s not even close
The Joker …. though SGA not playing heavy minutes/Q4 minutes due to his and teammates dominance.