NBA MVP Finalists for 2025-26 Season Revealed
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has officially announced the finalists for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2025-26 season. The three players nominated are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. This decision means that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic did not make it into the top three, despite having a standout season with the purple and gold.
This outcome was not entirely unexpected, as Doncic’s MVP campaign faced some challenges after he suffered a left hamstring strain that effectively ended his regular season. Despite this setback, Doncic still managed to play 64 games, just one short of the 65 required to qualify for NBA awards. However, he successfully filed an Extraordinary Circumstances appeal, which was approved, allowing him to remain eligible for recognition.
Even though Doncic did not finish in the top three for MVP, he is expected to place fourth behind the three finalists, who each had impressive seasons. His performance during the 2025-26 season was nothing short of remarkable. He led the league in scoring with an average of 33.5 points per game, while also contributing 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Additionally, he shot 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from the three-point line.
Doncic was the only player in the Western Conference to earn multiple Player of the Month honors, including March when he appeared to be the clear MVP favorite. During that month, he guided the Lakers to a 15-2 record. Unfortunately, his momentum came to a halt when he sustained the injury. However, not being named an MVP finalist does not diminish the significance of his season.
Looking ahead, Doncic is likely to be recognized as an All-NBA First Team member for the sixth time in his career, a distinction that will be announced in the coming weeks.
Luka Doncic Expresses Gratitude for NBA Decision
Doncic applied for an exemption to be eligible for NBA awards despite playing only 64 regular-season games. He missed two games in December to be present for the birth of his daughter, which contributed to the approval of his request. In response to the decision, Doncic expressed his appreciation to the league, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), and the Lakers organization.
“I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision,” Doncic wrote in a statement. “It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter in December, and I appreciate Mark, Jeanie, Rob, JJ, and the entire Lakers organization for fully supporting me and allowing me to travel to be there. This season has been so special to me because of what my teammates and I have been able to accomplish, and I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards.”
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