Overview
- The NBA named Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic as the three finalists for the 2025–26 Most Valuable Player award.
- The league also set fields for other awards, listing Chet Holmgren and Ausar Thompson for Defensive Player, Anthony Edwards and Jamal Murray for Clutch Player, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe for Rookie, and J. B. Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson and Joe Mazzulla for Coach.
- Nikola Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game and became the first player to lead the NBA in both assists and rebounds per game.
- Victor Wembanyama posted 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game and strengthened his Defensive Player of the Year case by leading the league in blocks.
- Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham were placed on ballots through the NBA’s “extraordinary circumstances” appeals despite missing the 65-game mark, though Doncic’s 33.5 points per game did not earn an MVP finalist spot.