Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are the finalists for this year’s NBA most valuable player (MVP) award.
It means for the eighth consecutive year, the MVP will be an international one.
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, is in the running to go back-to-back while Jokic is looking to win the award for the fourth time. Wembanyama, also nominated for defensive player of the year award, is hoping for his first MVP.
The NBA’s run of international MVPs started in 2019 and 2020 with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is of Greek and Nigerian descent.
Jokic, a Serbian, won in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon but since became a US citizen, won the award in 2023, and Canada’s Gilgeous-Alexander won last year.
Young star Wembanyama made his debut in the playoffs this season, scoring 35 points on Sunday night to set a franchise record for San Antonio for the most points scored in a playoff debut as the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98 in game one.
Watch the 2026 NBA playoffs live on Sky Sports, continuing with the Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ from 11pm on Monday evening.
