NBA MVP rankings: How does Luka Doncic injury shake up race?

This race, unexpectedly, has become a lot closer. Although it feels like a two-man battle at this point, with no team having more than six games left in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, these players are quickly running out of chances to elevate their arguments for Most Valuable Player. Thursday, April 2 was an interesting night, too, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers facing off, while phenom big Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs played the Los Angeles Clippers.

Here’s this week’s USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings : USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings 5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics He has simply not let up. He dropped 43 in a rout Wednesday, April 1 against the Heat and has scored at least 29 points in his last seven games, and is averaging 33.

6 over that stretch. More importantly, he has been the biggest reason for the Celtics to be a real threat in the East, despite missing Jayson Tatum (Achilles rehab) for most of the season. Brown has led Boston to a decently comfortable hold on the No.

2 seed in the East, and, even though Tatum is returning to form, Brown is looking poised to have a massive postseason. 4. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets He has notched triple-doubles in five of his last six games, as the Nuggets are peaking at the right time.