03-31-2026, 08:53 AM
What do you think about this year "MVP race"? Although SGA seems to be the favorite, I think four players (SGA, Jokic, Wemby and Luka) could actually make a very decent claim for the award. Assuming all 4 fill the 65 games criteria - at this point all 4 candidates could still theoretically dropped out if injury would happen in the next game. SGA, who played most games of the four, is currently still at "just" 64 games. I don't remember a year where four players were putting up so great MVP level seasons. Even more so insane that all four are playing in the same conference. While guys like Cade and J.Brown had great seasons, I think they are on a tier lower in this "race". I think discussions will be extremely heated as criteria for selection is not set and the narrative changes a lot over years.
SGA is probably the current leader in this "race". He is the most consistent player, more or less automatic 20+ ppg scorer, playing on currently league leading team. OKC was dealing with a lot of injuries and they never really lost a step despite that. They are a top5 team on both sides of the floor. SGA is scoring 31.6 ppg on awesome efficiency, but is behind other candidates in rpg ("only" 4.4) and apg ("only" 6.5). However, OKC is a great team as it is and is convincingly winning even the minutes when SGA is not on the floor. However, they are better with him on the floor.
Jokic is scoring a bit less at 27.9 ppg (with even higher efficiency than SGA), but has insane rpg (12.9) and apg (10.8). Averaging a very convincing tripple double over whole season. His advanced numbers are off the charts and Denver is much worse when he doesn't play. He is not great on defense though. Looking at stats and individual impact he is arguably the best, but Denver (currently) sits just at 4th place in the West. They could jump to #3 or drop to #6, although their remaining schedule is relatively easy.
Wemby is probably convincingly running away as a DPOY. His impact on defense is huge and SA is very surprisingly second best team in the league (could still overtake OKC). His offensive numbers are much lower though compared to the rest of the candidates, as he is scoring "just" 24.5 ppg and his assists number is relatively low. His advanced numbers are not as high as with SGA and Jokic.
Luka is probably the best scorer and offensive engine in the league. He is averaging 33.7 ppg with 7.8 rpg and 8.2 apg. Jokic and SGA are more efficient, but Lukas efficiency is still high (Wemby has almost identical efficiency as Luka). Not as consistent as SGA or Jokic, but his March play has been ridicolously good. While there has been a lot of talk about his "non-existent" defense, I think that is way exaggerated. He is top10 in steals per game in the league, for example. Lakers defense is also more or less very similar with him on or off the court, which would indicate that is more of a team issue than Luka issue. I am not trying to say he is a great defender, but he is certainly also not as bad as some media is trying to say. Imho better than Jokic, for example. Lakers are currently third in the West but with more difficult remaining schedule than Denver and I could see them drop to fourth. Lakers were searching their way for most of the season, however they are playing very well in March and impact of Luka on their play is also significantly higher in this frame. I think Lukas best is better than any player in the league, but he is not consistently at his best.
I think if the vote would be today, SGA would win. However, there are a couple of key games that could change the picture. LAL and OKC are playing 2 games against eachother in next 10 days. OKC is also playing against Denver in their second to last game. SAS and Denver are also playing 2 games against eachother in April. These are games that could significantly change the picture. For example, if OKC loses to LAL twice, SA could jump them in the standings and both Wemby (by his team being best in league) and Luka could make a huge case for themselves over SGA. If LAL loses both games against OKC, Denver could jump to third place which could perhaps lift Jokic chances with his insane individual production and team impact. I am really looking forward for this last stretch of the season.
SGA is probably the current leader in this "race". He is the most consistent player, more or less automatic 20+ ppg scorer, playing on currently league leading team. OKC was dealing with a lot of injuries and they never really lost a step despite that. They are a top5 team on both sides of the floor. SGA is scoring 31.6 ppg on awesome efficiency, but is behind other candidates in rpg ("only" 4.4) and apg ("only" 6.5). However, OKC is a great team as it is and is convincingly winning even the minutes when SGA is not on the floor. However, they are better with him on the floor.
Jokic is scoring a bit less at 27.9 ppg (with even higher efficiency than SGA), but has insane rpg (12.9) and apg (10.8). Averaging a very convincing tripple double over whole season. His advanced numbers are off the charts and Denver is much worse when he doesn't play. He is not great on defense though. Looking at stats and individual impact he is arguably the best, but Denver (currently) sits just at 4th place in the West. They could jump to #3 or drop to #6, although their remaining schedule is relatively easy.
Wemby is probably convincingly running away as a DPOY. His impact on defense is huge and SA is very surprisingly second best team in the league (could still overtake OKC). His offensive numbers are much lower though compared to the rest of the candidates, as he is scoring "just" 24.5 ppg and his assists number is relatively low. His advanced numbers are not as high as with SGA and Jokic.
Luka is probably the best scorer and offensive engine in the league. He is averaging 33.7 ppg with 7.8 rpg and 8.2 apg. Jokic and SGA are more efficient, but Lukas efficiency is still high (Wemby has almost identical efficiency as Luka). Not as consistent as SGA or Jokic, but his March play has been ridicolously good. While there has been a lot of talk about his "non-existent" defense, I think that is way exaggerated. He is top10 in steals per game in the league, for example. Lakers defense is also more or less very similar with him on or off the court, which would indicate that is more of a team issue than Luka issue. I am not trying to say he is a great defender, but he is certainly also not as bad as some media is trying to say. Imho better than Jokic, for example. Lakers are currently third in the West but with more difficult remaining schedule than Denver and I could see them drop to fourth. Lakers were searching their way for most of the season, however they are playing very well in March and impact of Luka on their play is also significantly higher in this frame. I think Lukas best is better than any player in the league, but he is not consistently at his best.
I think if the vote would be today, SGA would win. However, there are a couple of key games that could change the picture. LAL and OKC are playing 2 games against eachother in next 10 days. OKC is also playing against Denver in their second to last game. SAS and Denver are also playing 2 games against eachother in April. These are games that could significantly change the picture. For example, if OKC loses to LAL twice, SA could jump them in the standings and both Wemby (by his team being best in league) and Luka could make a huge case for themselves over SGA. If LAL loses both games against OKC, Denver could jump to third place which could perhaps lift Jokic chances with his insane individual production and team impact. I am really looking forward for this last stretch of the season.
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