SGA Leads MVP Race as Wemby Makes Late Push

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains comfortably ahead in straw poll despite Victor Wembanyama's surge.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in motion, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of vibrant colors.The MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama has become a battle of contrasting styles and generations.Denver Today

In ESPN's final NBA MVP straw poll of the 2025-26 season, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the race with 88 first-place votes, while San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is making a late charge but falls short. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.6 points per game and powering the Thunder to the league's best record for the second straight season.

Why it matters

The MVP race has come down to a battle between the Thunder's Gilgeous-Alexander, who is seeking to become the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs, and the Spurs' Wembanyama, who is trying to become the first player to win the award as early as his third season since Derrick Rose in 2011.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander landed the top spot on 88 out of 100 ballots, accumulating 958 points - 300 more than Wembanyama. The Spurs' 7-foot-4 big man has been putting up astronomical numbers, averaging 24.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks. However, Gilgeous-Alexander's clutch play and the Thunder's continued success have kept him comfortably in front.

  • On Monday night, Wembanyama had 41 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks in a win over the Chicago Bulls.
  • Later that same night, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points in the Thunder's overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The 27-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder guard is averaging 31.6 points per game on 55.3% shooting, along with 4.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists, as he looks to become the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs.

Victor Wembanyama

The 22-year-old San Antonio Spurs phenom is making a late push for the MVP award, averaging 24.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets center is having another historic season, averaging 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game, though his numbers have dipped slightly since returning from a knee injury.

Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers guard is leading the league with 33.8 points per game to go along with 7.1 rebounds and 8.3 assists, but a left hamstring injury could make him ineligible for MVP and All-NBA if he misses the final five games.

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What they’re saying

“No, I'm good. Thanks for asking, though. Yeah, I'm good. I let my game do the talking.”

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder Guard

“I have thought about it. I think right now, there is a debate. There should be, even though I think I should lead the race. I'm trying to make sure that at the end of the season, there's no debate.”

— Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Center

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama has created a new tier at the top of the MVP conversation, with the veteran Thunder star and the young Spurs phenom separating themselves from the rest of the field in the final stretch of the season.