161 Players Vote for MVP: Alexander Leads with 39% Vote Share, Wembanyama Surprisingly Not in Top Five

In the first 25 regular season MVP selections in NBA history, the winners were chosen by player votes, not media. This changed in the 1980-81 season when a panel of 69 journalists and commentators selected Julius Erving as MVP, a system that has been used ever since. On April 10, the renowned American media The Athletic once again returned the voice to the players, listening to their professional perspectives formed from firsthand experience on the court over the past six months, to see who the players believe is the MVP of this season.

From late February to early April, TA reporters traveled across North America, asking league players a series of questions covering individual awards, player trades, league issues, and more.This survey involved 161 players, setting a new record high for this annual project, representing about one-third of the total league players.

As always, TA strictly protected player identities, allowing them to express themselves honestly without fear of criticism from opponents, teammates, or fans. The timing of this MVP discussion was carefully arranged—just days before the regular season ends and the official votes from 100 veteran journalists and commentators are cast.

This can be seen as a last-minute reference from the players who once dominated MVP voting. At the end of March, Spurs' Victor Wembanyama made a direct and detailed pitch for himself, sparking intense MVP debate and forcing voters and betting agencies to reassess the situation. Many speculated whether he could pull the leading Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the top spot.

The answer might be: no.

If player voting is indicative (as it often is), then this smooth-playing Thunder star is poised to win MVP again. He not only ranked first in player voting, but his vote share was nearly double that of the second-place Nuggets player Nikola Jokić.

Although Wembanyama's self-promotion was effective in the betting market (he currently ranks second behind SGA), he did not even make the top five in player voting. This more reflects the overall strength of this year's contenders rather than disqualifying the Spurs rookie. This season's MVP candidate pool is exceptionally stellar. And in most players' eyes, Alexander remains the strongest among them, once again. Here are the specific vote share rankings from the 161 players—

1. Alexander (39.0%), 2. Jokić (21.4%), 3. Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, Luka Dončić tied (8.2%), 6. Wembanyama (5.0%), 7. Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard (3.1%), 9. Giannis Antetokounmpo (1.3%)

The 27-year-old Alexander averages 31.1 points per game, ranking second in the league, with a shooting percentage of 55.3%, significantly higher than the league's scoring leader and fellow MVP candidate Lakers star Luka Dončić (33.5 ppg, 47.6% shooting). Even though external focus often centers on the controversy around his foul drawing, it's just one of many weapons he uses to dismantle defenses.

He is lethal from mid-range and long-range, and his constant drives to the basket create space for the entire team. His footwork—flashy and explosive—has reached the level of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

"Shai has been super consistent," one supporter said, "The team faced injuries, but he consistently delivered. We always take it for granted, but he scores at least 20 points every night. Many teammates around him were injured, yet the team still firmly holds the top spot in the West."

By the way, his consecutive 20+ point scoring streak has reached an absurd 140 games (on March 13 surpassing Wilt Chamberlain). This season Alexander also averages 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals per game, leading the Thunder to the league's seventh-best offense, top defense, and best record (64 wins, 16 losses).

There were countless highlight moments during the season, but perhaps the March 10 duel with Jokić was the most classic—both playing at peak form. That night SGA tied Chamberlain's consecutive 20+ streak, scoring 35 points, 15 assists, 9 rebounds with 0 turnovers, and hitting two three-pointers in the final 14 seconds to secure a 129-126 victory.

"He's the best player on the team with the best record," another player said, "What more needs to be said?"

As the first player mentioned, SGA's astonishing consistency and efficiency make him the most unstoppable perimeter player in the league today. If he successfully wins MVP again, he will become the first player to do so since Jokić in 2021 and 2022, and the 14th player in NBA history to win MVP consecutively.

A point that further solidified his advantage in the competition but is less mentioned: Alexander achieved all this while missing his core partner Jaylen Williams for much of the season. This key contributor from last season's championship run missed 47 games due to wrist and hamstring injuries.

Even though this MVP competition is filled with stars, players generally believe SGA deserves it, which itself is a significant endorsement.

In Denver, the injury-plagued Nuggets (52 wins, 28 losses) long lacked Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson, and others. The 31-year-old Jokić averages 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.9 assists per game—a stat line that has only occurred twice in league history (Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 season, and Jokić himself last season). More importantly, Jokić有望成为1968年张伯伦之后、联盟历史第二位同一赛季同时领跑助攻与篮板的球员.

"I always find it hard not to choose Jokić," one player said, "He might be the best player on Earth, it's unbelievable."

In Boston, Jrue Holiday was traded to the Trail Blazers this summer, Kristaps Porziņģis was sent to the Hawks, and Jayson Tatum was almost sidelined for the season due to an Achilles tear. Jaylen Brown (averaging 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steals per game) proved he fully deserves a core role and single-handedly kept the Celtics in championship contention.

"Considering the personnel lost from last season, the low expectations at the start, and looking at the current record, it's all thanks to him and his level of play," one player commented, "He maintains extremely high standards on both offense and defense, consistent every night."

In Detroit, Cunningham, due to a collapsed lung injury, is likely to lose official eligibility under the league's 65-game appearance rule, but this young star (averaging 24.4 points, 9.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks per game) has officially joined the league's elite ranks.

In Los Angeles, the Lakers recently struggled due to Dončić's (hamstring) and Austin Reaves' (oblique) injuries, but the team's resurgence in the second half is largely credited to Dončić's phenomenal performance. He averages 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds per game, a stat line that has only occurred once in history—he achieved it himself with the Mavericks in the 2023-24 season. According to Stathead, only Dončić, Robertson, Jordan, and Russell Westbrook have ever achieved 30+ points, 8+ assists, 7+ rebounds.

"What he's doing with this roster is really outrageous," one player said of Dončić, "Players coming and going, Reaves and the already aging LeBron James dealing with injuries, and players like Deandre Ayton with fluctuating performance, I think he's doing an unparalleled job."

Even so, his performance is slightly inferior to SGA—who won MVP last season, the 2025 championship, and led the entire regular season with dominant play,早已习惯身处顶端.

The Athletic's Historical Player Vote MVP Results—

Note: The Athletic did not conduct voting in 2020, 2021, 2022

2025 Player Vote: Alexander / Official Result: Alexander

2024 Player Vote: Jokić / Official Result: Jokić

2023 Player Vote: Embiid / Official Result: Embiid

2019 Player Vote: Harden / Official Result: Antetokounmpo