Victor Wembanyama will enter the 2026-27 NBA season as an MVP frontrunner, but there will be more players than usual standing in his way.
In Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs have the frontrunner to win the MVP Award next season. Last year, it was a three-horse race, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beating out both Wemby and Nikola Jokic.
All three players had pretty good cases. SGA was the best player on the best team, Jokic is a one-man offense who probably impacts winning more than anyone else in the league, and Wemby is already one of the best two-way players the NBA has ever seen.
All three will be considered frontrunners in 2026-27. However, as the NBA landscape changed this summer and players got healthy, it could be one of the most wide-open races in recent memory.
Three New Players to Rival Wemby in MVP Race
The Thunder will remain fantastic, so SGA has a case. Jokic led the NBA in both rebounds and assists last season, so his argument is clear. Wemby, too, dominates and is expected to take a leap next season.
However, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo could all put together MVP-worthy seasons, too.
Not only does Doncic get the benefit of playing in Los Angeles, but with LeBron James out of town, he's now the unquestioned number one option. The Lakers took a page from the Dallas Mavericks' playbook, rebuilding the 2024 Finals team. Austin Reaves has replaced Kyrie Irving, Walker Kessler is the new Daniel Gafford, and Quentin Grimes and Jake LaRavia have replaced PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr.
Doncic is perhaps the best scorer in the game, and if he posts 30 or more points on a top-three seed, it'll be hard to argue against him.
Giannis, as well, benefits from a better roster. Bam Adebayo is probably the best player he's ever shared the court with, and Erik Spoelstra is the best skipper he's ever had. Now, the Heat did lose a lot of depth to land Antetokounmpo, although that should only boost his statistical output.
If he stays healthy, he should be right back in MVP talks.
Speaking of health, everything seems to be going Joel Embiid's way. With Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joining Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers should be the best team in the East. Plus, voters love a comeback story.
In the last season Embiid was healthy, he beat Jokic in the MVP race. If he can be the best player on the best team in the East, he might get away with a second MVP award, even if he has the best supporting cast in the NBA.
Right now, Wemby is the betting favorite, although the field is pretty close. If he stays healthy, it should be his award to lose, but he has to top some of the best players of the generation.
