The NBA’s first MVP Ladder of 2026–27 has Luka Dončić on top, Victor Wembanyama second and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander third. That order tells a bigger story than three famous names filling the podium: the race has opened with three very different ways of taking over a game. The NBA’s 6 November rankings put the Lakers guard in front, but there’s already plenty to argue about behind him.
Dončić has made the loudest scoring statement. At the time of the ranking, he was averaging 38.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and eight assists. The league credited him with an unprecedented six straight games featuring at least 35 points, five rebounds, five assists and five made threes. That’s an outrageous combination of volume and creation. It’s not just that he’s getting his own shots; he’s forcing defences to account for the pass even while he’s putting up numbers that would be spectacular for a pure scorer.
Wembanyama offers a different kind of headache. His 52-point, 24-rebound, eight-block performance against Dallas is the sort of line that makes even ridiculous highlights feel incomplete. He was averaging 29 points, 12.4 boards and 4.5 blocks when the list came out. Dončić can dominate the possession with the ball in his hands; Wembanyama can change the possession before an opponent even attempts a shot. That defensive reach gives his case a dimension the scoring column can't capture on its own.
Then there’s Gilgeous-Alexander. The two-time reigning MVP was averaging 30.1 points, and Oklahoma City has needed him to shoulder more responsibility amid injuries to key teammates. His 43-point, eight-assist outing against Cleveland, with just one turnover, captured the appeal of his game: relentless scoring without losing control. The NBA’s Friday edition of Starting 5 highlighted how his scoring surge has helped keep the Thunder moving.
The most interesting name outside that top three might be Tyrese Maxey. He opened fourth, averaging 28 points and 5.4 assists for a Philadelphia side that began 8–1. The Sixers’ start has had more to do with defence and tight-game execution than overwhelming opponents. NBA.com's examination of their first nine games noted that seven of their eight wins had been close in the final five minutes. Maxey’s scoring gives those narrow margins a reliable attacking focal point, which is exactly the sort of responsibility that can strengthen an MVP argument as the season develops.
It’s only early November, but the contrast is already compelling. Dončić is setting the scoring pace, Wembanyama is threatening games at both ends and Gilgeous-Alexander is keeping the Thunder dangerous through adversity. Maxey, meanwhile, has a winning team and a bigger spotlight. The first ranking gives Luka the lead. The fun part is that none of the challengers needs to play his kind of basketball to catch him.
Comments