Gilgeous-Alexander extends MVP straw-poll lead as 65-game rule tightens race
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Feb. 20, 2026 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has strengthened his grip on the NBA’s Most Valuable Player race, taking 78 of 100 first-place votes in ESPN’s second MVP straw poll of the 2025-26 season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard was listed on every ballot collected this week from a panel of local, national and international reporters. He also received 20 second-place and two third-place votes.
Numbers behind the frontrunner
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.8 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 55.4% from the field for the Western Conference-leading Thunder. Oklahoma City started the campaign 24-1 but has gone 17-13 since, a stretch that includes an abdominal injury that has already sidelined the All-Star for seven games. The Thunder said Thursday he will be re-evaluated in a week, guaranteeing at least a few additional absences.
Jokic still second, but margin for error is gone
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic remained in second place with 18 first-place votes. The two-time MVP owns averages of 28.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.7 assists on 59% shooting overall, 42% from three and 84% from the free-throw line. A late-December bone bruise cost him nearly a month, and two more missed games would drop him below the league’s new 65-game minimum for award eligibility. Jokic has finished in the top two of MVP voting five straight years, one shy of the all-time record held by Bill Russell and Larry Bird.
Wembanyama, Cunningham climb into contention
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama vaulted from eighth to fourth, landing on 75 ballots and collecting three first-place nods. The third-year star is posting 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and an NBA-best 2.7 blocks, but 13 games missed leave him only four more allowable absences.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham placed third with one first-place vote. Cunningham has powered Detroit to the top of the Eastern Conference, positioning the franchise for its first opening-round home-court advantage since 2008.
Health questions define the field
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić (fifth) has missed 12 games, while LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (13) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (10) also hover near the games-played threshold. Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James are already below the requirement, and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is two games away from the cutoff.
Brown leads pack of East challengers
With Jayson Tatum still recovering from last year’s playoff Achilles tear, Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown climbed to sixth after finishing ninth in December’s poll. Boston reached the All-Star break in second place in the East.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell finished seventh (11 votes, 27 points). New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson ranked ninth (seven votes, 17 points), and Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey rounded out the top ten (four votes, 10 points).
The next straw poll is expected after the trade deadline, leaving every contender little room for additional injury setbacks under the 65-game rule.
Source: ESPN
