Shai Gilgeous Alexander Leads as Victor Wembanyama Comes in at No. 3

The 2025-26 NBA regular season is off to a thrilling start, and many of the league’s best players are already making their early cases for regular-season MVP. Last year saw a thrilling race that came down to the wire between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

This season, however, is likely to see more players enter the fray, especially with an Eastern Conference that has increased parity and a Western Conference that boasts several emerging stars.

We’re about an eighth of the way into the regular season, and with that in mind, GIVEMESPORT has decided to list out our top 10 NBA MVP candidates.

10

Josh Giddey

The Chicago Bulls have been one of this year’s surprise teams amid their 6-3 start. Billy Donovan’s squad ranks in the top 3 in assists per game and is overwhelming opponents from beyond the arc with a versatile offensive approach.

The one constant for the Bulls to this point has been ascending point guard Josh Giddey. At this rate, the 24-year-old would make his first All-Star game, and his improvement from deep has been especially encouraging for this young core.

9

Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons continue to climb up the Eastern Conference ladder, and their franchise player is beginning to take that good-to-great jump. Through ten games Cade Cunningham is averaging 25.6 points and 9.8 assists, which ranks second in the NBA.

The 24-year-old makes up an imposing young trio alongside Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, who now hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference. So far, the Pistons are taking the jump that we expected theOrlando Magic to take this season.

8

Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson has a history of working his way into the regular season and then playing like an MVP candidate towards the latter half of the basketball year. But Mike Brown’s motion-based offense has the New York Knicks‘ star point guard already in All-NBA form.

Brunson is averaging 27.2 points and 6.2 assists for a team that has won every contest at home and hasn’t won a game on the road. Fortunately, that means the Knicks are 6-3 and riding a four-game winning streak.

New York will likely be less reliant on Brunson than it normally is with its new head coach, and that’s the right idea, considering this team’s title-sized expectations.

7

Donovan Mitchell

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had to manage injuries amid their 7-3 start, and thanks to Donovan Mitchell, this team is keeping pace with all the contenders in the Eastern Conference.

The star shooting guard has been playing some of the best basketball of his life, averaging 30.7 points per game on 53.4% shooting from the field.

This included a 46-point performance against the Philadelphia 76ers last Wednesday on 15/21 shooting. With their young and regular-season ceiling, the Cavs are still the favorite to claim the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

6

Tyrese Maxey

The Philadelphia 76ers have two of the worst contracts in the NBA, but their young backcourt has breathed new life into the franchise

V.J. Edgecombe is an early favorite for Rookie of the Year, while Tyrese Maxey is in supernova form. The All-Star combo guard is averaging 33.2 points, 8.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks for this 6-4 squad.

Maxey coming in at No. 6 with that stat line reflects how deep this race is shaping up to be this season.

5

Nikola Jokic

The best player in the world has always wanted to play like this, and now that the Denver Nuggets have surrounded him with more talent, Nikola Jokic is attempting just 15 shots a game.

The legendary center is still putting up staggering stats for the 7–2 Nuggets, and he certainly has a chance to rise this list very shortly. Jokic is averaging a triple-double once again, leads the league in assists, and is shooting 64% from the field.

As long as Cameron Johnson finds his form as this season goes on, the Nuggets are the biggest threat to an Oklahoma City Thunder repeat.

4

Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic has only played six out of ten games for the L.A. Lakers, but the superstar point guard is averaging 37.0 points, 10 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in those contests.

Doncic made a commitment to slim down this offseason, and looks to be in the best shape of his life at 26 years old. With LeBron James yet to make his season debut, Luka will get plenty more opportunities to put up gaudy stats for a team looking to contend out west.

3

Victor Wembanyama

The NBA has a new perennial MVP candidate, and Victor Wembanyama was off to a historic start this regular season. The 21-year-old Frenchman became the first player in NBA history to record at least 100 points and 15 blocks in his first three games, while leading the San Antonio Spurs to a franchise-best 5-0 start.

Wembanyama has gradually come back down to earth for this 7-2 squad and also has yet to find his three-point shot. Fortunately, the young center’s commitment to taking fewer outside shots and his impressive defensive impact are enough to secure the No. 3 spot in our top 10.

2

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage through nine games for a Milwaukee Bucks team that is exceeding preseason expectations so far.

The Greek Freak came into this season with a chip on his shoulder amid all the trade rumors, and he’s been as dominant as ever in the paint. One of the most encouraging trends for Antetokounmpo early this season has been his efficiency from three-point range, which is at 50%.

The future Hall of Famer is taking just 1.6 shots a game from distance, but should he continue to make opposing defenses pay for leaving him wide open, his chances of winning a third MVP trophy will skyrocket.

1

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 10-1, even with All-Star wing Jalen Williams yet to make his season debut. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again in transcendent form for the defending champs and is definitely an early candidate for Clutch Player of the Year.

The Thunder’s star point guard is averaging 9.3 points and hasn’t committed a turnover in clutch-time situations, consistently making the right read down the stretch of games. The road to the NBA Finals still runs through OKC in the West, and if this squad can up their win total from last season, Gilgeous-Alexander will likely walk away with this award once again.