4. Jaylen Brown, Celtics
Cunningham, Brunson and Brown all have strong cases for the third spot in the rankings behind SGA and Luka
www.cbssports.comHere’s the latest I can share based on ongoing coverage up to now.
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The MVP race in the 2025-26 season has featured a handful of top contenders, with Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama commonly appearing near the top in many rankings and discussions. This group has been repeatedly highlighted as leading the chase for the award as the season progressed.[2][3][6]
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By late December 2025, several outlets and NBA analysts were noting Brown, Cunningham, and other stars as rising threats to the top tier, reflecting how injuries and pace can reshape the ladder week to week. The MVP debate was described as a multi-player race with top performers in various teams contending for consideration.[3][6]
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If you want the very latest, I can pull current rankings from reputable outlets (NBA.com MVP Ladder, major sports networks, and CBS Sports) and summarize who’s in the lead right now, including any recent shifts due to injuries or hot streaks. Would you like me to fetch the latest updated MVP ladder and provide a concise snapshot?
Note: For the most up-to-date, I can provide direct links to the current MVP rankings from sources like NBA.com and major outlets, with brief notes on why each top candidate is favored today.