Where the NBA MVP Race Stands As January Begins
The NBA MVP race didn’t ease into January — it lurched there. Nikola Jokic’s injury didn’t just remove the favorite; it changed how the award has to be discussed. Suddenly, games played matter more. Team context matters more. And patience, both from voters and fans, feels thinner than usual.
With Jokic likely sidelined long enough to fall short of the league’s eligibility rules, the field has tightened. What’s left is a group defined as much by reliability as brilliance. This is where the race stands right now.
NBA MVP Top 10
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander sits at the top because his season has been steady in every way that matters. Oklahoma City keeps winning, and he keeps showing up. He scores efficiently, finishes games, and holds his own defensively. There’s very little debate attached to his case, and that tends to work in his favor.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
When Giannis is available, games usually bend around him. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is how little flexibility he has left with missed time. His scoring output remains overwhelming, but availability has become part of the NBA MVP conversation, whether anyone likes it or not.
3. Luka Doncic, Lakers
Doncic continues to carry an enormous load for the Lakers. The offense runs through him, and the numbers back that up. Los Angeles looks ordinary without him. Defense still limits how high his candidacy can climb, but it hasn’t pushed him out of the race.
4. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Wembanyama’s impact is felt before the box score fills up. Opponents hesitate near the rim, and rotations shift when he’s on the floor. His offense can still run hot and cold, but the overall influence, especially defensively, is hard to ignore.
5. Jalen Brunson, Knicks
Brunson has become the foundation of what the Knicks do offensively. He takes the big shots, steadies possessions, and rarely fades late. His defense remains a known issue, but New York keeps winning with him leading the way.
6. Cade Cunningham, Pistons
Detroit, sitting near the top of the East, still takes some getting used to, and Cunningham is the main reason it’s happening. He’s asked to do a bunch, sometimes too much, but the impact is clear. The efficiency fluctuates. The responsibility does not.
7. Stephen Curry, Warriors
Curry is still producing at an elite level, even as the season wears on. The shooting hasn’t dipped, and the scoring remains there. What is different is everything around him, and Golden State’s record makes it difficult to push this case much further.
8. Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
Edwards’ season hasn’t been perfectly smooth, but the scoring surge is real. He is shooting better from deep and still getting downhill when needed. Other areas come and go, but the offense keeps him in the picture.
9. Alperen Sengun, Rockets
Sengun is central to nearly everything Houston does. He scores, facilitates, rebounds, and holds the middle together. The efficiency isn’t always clean, but the workload is constant, and that carries weight.
10. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers
Mitchell has been excellent offensively, even as Cleveland’s season has been uneven. The scoring efficiency stands out. Team results likely cap how far his NBA MVP candidacy can go, but the performance deserves acknowledgment.
Final Thoughts
This NBA MVP race will keep shifting. Injuries, rest, and standings always have their say. For now, though, this is where the NBA MVP conversation sits as January begins.
