NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops two spots in ESPN's Most Valuable Player (MVP) ranking
The NBA landscape is shaping up for an exciting 2025-26 season, and the early MVP race is no exception. According to ESPN's preseason poll, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets leads the way, while Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers finds himself in second place.
Jokic's strong performance, particularly against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2025 playoffs, has impressed voters. His dominance, coupled with the Nuggets' bounce-back season, has solidified his position at the top.
Doncic, who was traded from the Dallas Mavericks over the offseason, is anticipated to have a rebound season with the Nuggets. Voters seem to be impressed by his offseason transformation, which could potentially close the gap between him and Jokic.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished runner-up to Jokic in the MVP race in the 2023-24 season, has fallen to third in the preseason poll. This unexpected drop may be due to the Oklahoma City Thunder's return as defending champions and the team's success, which is a factor in MVP voting.
The Thunder, with Gilgeous-Alexander as their starter, according to ESPN's MVP preseason projection, are poised for another strong season. However, the Nuggets, with key offseason moves such as the acquisitions of Bruce Brown and the trades for Dario Saric and Michael Porter Jr. for veteran center Jonas Valanciunas and Cameron Johnson, are a deeper team than they were last season.
In a surprising turn of events, Hall of Famer Allen Iverson has called Gilgeous-Alexander the best player. Iverson made this statement at a kids' camp, per the No Flukes Foundation, over the summer.
Despite Gilgeous-Alexander's third place in the poll, many fans are still anticipating a bounce-back season for Luka Doncic, who had an injury-riddled previous season and was traded from the Dallas Mavericks. With Doncic's potential and the competitive nature of the NBA, the MVP race for the 2025-26 season is far from decided.
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