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2026 NBA MVP Ladder: January 8 Rankings

Will Despart 532 January 8, 2026Fact checked by: Ronnie Flores No Comments

Since the last time we talked, the NBA MVP race has taken a major turn. We have a new leader, a recurring addition, and a pair of mainstays who are each leading impressive charges in their respective conferences.  Still, the recent developments have changed the race entirely and now it all may hinge on one superstar in particular getting back on the court as soon as possible. 

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder
(Age 27, 1-Time MVP)

Last ranking: No. 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had been running just a hair behind Nikola Jokic in the MVP race before Jokic was ruled out for at least four weeks at the time of his knee injury that will officially put his candidacy for a fourth MVP in jeopardy (keep in mind a player can only miss 17 games and be eligible for postseason awards). 

With the race suddenly taking on a new complexion, Gilgeous-Alexander established pole position with a 46-point outing in Oklahoma City’s 129-125 overtime win against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The Thunder entered that game coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season, so it was an especially timely performance for the reigning MVP. 

Still, the most convincing stat in favor of Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP candidacy is the fact that he’s still second in the NBA in scoring (32.1 points per game) despite the fact that he’s sat out the fourth quarter in 16 of the Thunder’s 38 games so far this season.

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Age 30, 3-Time MVP)

Last ranking: No. 1

As mentioned, Jokic’s forecasted absence will complicate his path toward winning yet another MVP award. However, if he can somehow get back on the court within the next handful of weeks with some extra DNPs to spare, his numbers are just too gaudy, and his performance is too consistent not to be considered for the award if eligible. So while he is still eligible, he’ll claim his rightful spot on the list. 

One thing that could potentially work in Jokic’s favor for the award, as counterproductive as it would be, is if the Nuggets perform poorly in this stretch without him. We’ve all seen and heard the stats about the Nuggets being a historically great team with Jokic on the floor and a downright bad one without him, but they are 3-2 without him this season and just beat the red-hot Boston Celtics on the road in primetime. 

The larger conversation around this year’s award, if Jokic becomes ineligible, is how stupid the 65-game minimum is to earn postseason honors in the NBA. If Jokic can’t maintain his standing in an MVP race in which he leads the NBA in rebounding and assists and is sixth in scoring, the criteria needs to be adjusted.

3. Luka Doncic, LA Lakers
(Age 26, No MVPs)

Last ranking: No. 3

The NBA is ripe with 30-point-per-game scorers this season, but standing above all of them in the first half of the NBA season is Luka Doncic. His 32 points per game not only lead the league, his 8.8 assists per game rank fourth and his eight rebounds per game also rank 25th. 

Not only is Luka accumulating the best numbers of his career to this point, the Lakers are also a force to be reckoned with. The Lakers are 23-12 this season despite having been without LeBron James for the first chunk of the season, and Doncic has managed to keep the ship afloat amidst an extended absence from breakthrough star Austin Reaves as well. 

It couldn’t be clearer that Doncic is leading the operation in LA, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals because of that fact, especially if injuries continue to pose a question mark in the Western Conference. I wouldn’t expect them to upset Oklahoma City, though.

4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
(Age 24, No MVPs)

Last ranking: No. 4

Cade Cunningham has been piloting the first-place Detroit Pistons with such precision that you could make a real argument that the only players that contribute more to a winning culture in the NBA right now are Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pistons are 28-9 so far this season and have won four of their last five games after dropping two in a row post-Christmas. 

Cunningham currently ranks second in the league with 9.7 assists per game, which isn’t too shabby for a guy who also ranks 12th in scoring with an average 26.9 points per game. The Pistons appear to be cruising toward the No. 1 seed and home court advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs, which is a remarkable turn for a franchise that quite literally couldn’t buy a win two seasons ago. 

If the Pistons' dominance continues, which it will, there’s really no choice but to consider Cunningham for the award.

5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
(Age 29, No MVPs)

Last ranking: NR

Jaylen Brown’s numbers might not be as gaudy as Tyrese Maxey’s, and his performances might not be as incomprehensible as Victor Wembanyama’s, but there’s something to be said about the fact that the Boston Celtics are 23-13 on the season and in third place in the Eastern Conference without Jayson Tatum. 

It goes without saying that Brown’s 29.7 points and 4.9 assists per game are the driving force behind that, but the most impressive quality of his career-best season thus far has been the way that he’s rallied the Celtics around him and how they’ve responded to his leadership in turn. 

Brown has absolutely established himself as a true 1B to Tatum’s 1A amidst the latter’s absence, and it really isn’t too far fetched to believe that those roles could soon flop as well if Tatum’s form upon return isn’t used to what we’re seeing from him. 

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