Victor Wembanyama Ascends to Top of Kia MVP Ladder for 2025-26 Season
The race for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award has reached a thrilling conclusion as the regular season winds down. In the most recent update to the Kia MVP Ladder, Victor Wembanyama has officially claimed the No. 1 spot, signaling a dramatic shift in the hierarchy of the league’s elite performers.
Tracked weekly by NBA.com’s Shaun Powell, the ladder provides a comprehensive look at how the top contenders have fluctuated throughout the 2025-26 campaign. While the season began with established veterans dominating the conversation, the final weeks have seen a surge from the league’s newest superstar.
Current MVP Standings: Week 24
As of April 3, 2026, the top five rankings reflect a highly competitive field. Wembanyama now leads the pack, followed closely by perennial contenders who have battled for the top position all year.
- 1. Victor Wembanyama
- 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- 3. Nikola Jokić
- 4. Luka Dončić
- 5. Jaylen Brown
The Evolution of the 2025-26 MVP Race
The trajectory of this season’s MVP race can be divided into three distinct phases: the early dominance of Nikola Jokić, the mid-season reign of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the late-season rise of Victor Wembanyama.
The Early Phase: Jokić’s Foundation
For the first third of the season, Nikola Jokić was the definitive frontrunner. From Week 4 through Week 12, Jokić held the No. 1 position consistently. During this period, he was flanked by Gilgeous-Alexander and Dončić, establishing a baseline of excellence that defined the early months of the 2025-26 season.
The Mid-Season Shift: The Rise of Gilgeous-Alexander
The momentum shifted significantly starting in Week 13. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over the top spot and maintained a vice grip on the No. 1 ranking for ten consecutive weeks, spanning from Week 13 to Week 22. This stretch cemented his status as the primary challenger to the established order, with players like Jaylen Brown and Immanuel Quickley rotating through the top five.
The Final Surge: Wembanyama Takes Control
The most striking development occurred in the final stretch of the season. Victor Wembanyama, who spent much of the early season hovering around the No. 4 or No. 5 spot, made a decisive climb. He ascended to the No. 1 position in Week 23 and has maintained that lead through Week 24.
Key Takeaways from the 2025-26 Ladder
- Consistency: Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić remained fixtures in the top five for nearly the entire duration of the season.
- Volatility: The No. 5 spot saw the most movement, with players such as Antetokounmpo, Brunson, Maxey, and Cunningham cycling through the rankings.
- Timing: Wembanyama’s late-season surge has fundamentally altered the narrative of the MVP race just as the voting window approaches.
MVP Ladder Historical Snapshot
The following table illustrates the shifts in the top three positions during critical junctures of the season:
| Period | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Season (Week 8) | Nikola Jokić | S. Gilgeous-Alexander | Luka Dončić |
| Mid Season (Week 17) | S. Gilgeous-Alexander | Nikola Jokić | Luka Dončić |
| Current (Week 24) | Victor Wembanyama | S. Gilgeous-Alexander | Nikola Jokić |
As the regular season concludes, the basketball world awaits the final voting results to see if Wembanyama’s late-season dominance is enough to secure the trophy over the consistent excellence of Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić.
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