The best ability is availability — at least for the MVP.
Over the past few seasons, the NBA has done everything in its power to eliminate tanking and reduce load management across the league. Despite these efforts, teams constantly find newer, more creative ways to preserve their stars while quietly inching toward the bottom of the standings.
Now, instead of focusing on teams, the NBA has shifted its attention toward the players.
Following Joel Embiid’s controversial MVP season, the league implemented the “65-game rule,” requiring players to appear in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible for any major awards.
Fast forward to today, and the 2026 MVP race may come down to one thing: whoever plays the most games. Each candidate has a strong case to win the award, but the real question remains—how many of them will reach the 65-game threshold?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Oklahoma City Thunder
31.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 6.6 AST, .554 FG%, .383 3P%
Games Needed: 10, Games Remaining: 15
In many cases, the MVP award can be boiled down to the best player on the best team. Despite rolling out 27 different starting lineups this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have remained dominant, maintaining their physical defensive identity throughout the year.
However, there are two sides of the ball, and the team has struggled at times offensively. With All-Star Jalen Williams sidelined for much of the season, the Thunder have relied heavily on last year’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to lead the way.
Not only has he served as the team’s primary offensive engine, but he has also carried them to a top-10 offensive rating for the third consecutive season despite constant lineup changes.
Surpassing Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive games with 20 or more points, Gilgeous-Alexander has been the one constant for Oklahoma City on the offensive end, helping continue the franchise’s streak of dominance across the league.
Nikola Jokić — Denver Nuggets
28.7 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 10.4 AST, .573 FG%, .389 3P%
Games Needed: 14, Games Remaining: 15
Even after winning a championship in 2023, the Denver Nuggets have yet to put together a roster around Nikola Jokić quite like this one. The team’s elite shooting, athleticism, and versatility has allowed the three-time MVP to unlock new aspects of his game, maximizing his brilliance across the board.
In a league that was once criticized for its lack of parity, it’s refreshing to see a player as accomplished as Jokić still finding ways to improve deep into his career.
Once again, the Nuggets’ offense has been a well-oiled machine, with Jokić leading the way. Not only is he leading the league in rebounds, but the superstar center is also on track to lead the league in assists—something no player in NBA history has ever accomplished.
Cade Cunningham — Detroit Pistons
24.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 10.1 AST, .460 FG%, .350 3P%
Games Needed: 6, Games Remaining: 16
Detroit basketball is officially back.
After failing to win 50 games for nearly two decades, the Pistons are on the verge of a historic season, and the man responsible for it all is Cade Cunningham.
Not only has he led the Pistons back to relevance, but he has also reinvigorated an entire city while storming through the Eastern Conference in the process.
Following one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NBA history, Cunningham and the Pistons built on that momentum this season, earning the number one seed in the East.
| Team | Previous Season Record | Season Record | Win Increase |
| ’08 Boston Celtics | 24-58 | 66-16 | 42 Wins |
| ’98 San Antonio Spurs | 20-62 | 56-26 | 36 Wins |
| ’90 San Antonio Spurs | 21-61 | 56-26 | 35 Wins |
| ’05 Phoenix Suns | 29-53 | 62-20 | 33 Wins |
| ’80 Boston Celtics | 29-53 | 61-21 | 32 Wins |
| ’25 Detroit Pistons | 14-68 | 43-39 | 29 Wins |
He has instilled a level of intensity and ferocity in his teammates that is reminiscent of past Pistons teams, and with the league wide open, there’s no telling just how far Detroit can go with Cunningham leading the way.
Victor Wembanyama — San Antonio Spurs
24.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.9 AST, .500 FG%, .360 3P%
Games Needed: 14, Games Remaining: 16
For the first time in nearly a decade, the San Antonio Spurs find themselves near the top of the Western Conference standings. Sitting just 3.5 games behind the Thunder, San Antonio could finish with the league’s best record for the first time since 2003.
If you’re wondering who won MVP that year, here’s a hint: his name rhymes with “pumpkin.”
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Tim Duncan, Victor Wembanyama has transformed the Spurs from a lottery team into an offensive juggernaut.
After winning 16 of their last 18 games, the Spurs have posted the highest net rating in the league since the All-Star break, and Wembanyama has been the driving force behind it.
Not only does he anchor the team’s defense, but his ability to stretch the floor and create off the dribble forces opposing defenses away from the basket, creating space for San Antonio’s guards to flourish.
| Player | PPG | FG% | eFG% |
| De’Arron Fox | 19.1 | .489 | .555 |
| Stephon Castle | 16.6 | .468 | .515 |
| Devin Vassell | 14.2 | .436 | .544 |
| Dylan Harper | 11.2 | .487 | .526 |
Jaylen Brown — Boston Celtics
28.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.2 AST, .479 FG%, .347 3P%
Games Needed: 6, Games Remaining: 16
Despite losing five key members of their rotation last season, the Celtics have retooled their roster and turned what many expected to be a “gap year” into one of the franchise’s most impressive seasons in recent memory.
Currently on pace to win 55 games, Boston has maintained its competitive culture even without its superstar, Jayson Tatum, for much of the season.
Instead, the team has relied on NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to carry the load until Tatum’s return.
As he has in previous seasons, Brown has exceeded expectations—averaging career highs across the board and leading the Celtics to top-five ratings on both offense and defense.
Now, with Tatum returning, Brown’s continued development as a scorer and playmaker will be crucial as Boston looks to reestablish itself as a championship contender.
Now, it wouldn’t be much of an MVP discussion if I didn’t mention these NBA superstars as well: Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers; Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets; Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks.
With such a tight race, the winning may come down to something as simple as availability, but should that be the determining factor? If one of these stars separated themselves from the pact, but failed to make the 65-game threshold, should they really be eliminated from contention? Let us know what you think, and be sure to tell us who your MVP is in the comments.
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