NBA MVP Race in Turmoil as Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander Face Eligibility Crisis
Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have dominated MVP conversations for much of the 2025-26 NBA season, but both stars now find themselves at the center of a potentially season-defining twist: ineligibility for the league's most prestigious individual honor.
According to recent reporting, the Denver Nuggets center and the Oklahoma City Thunder guard are currently the top two favorites in MVP betting markets. However, their chances of claiming the award are under serious threat as both approach a critical eligibility threshold.
The NBA's regular-season MVP award has always carried immense prestige, with past winners shaping legacies and Hall of Fame cases. This season, though, the race has become as much about availability as ability.
The NBA implemented stricter games played requirements for major awards to encourage player participation and reduce load management. The policy, which went into effect ahead of the 2023-24 season, has already influenced how teams and players approach rest and recovery.
For frontrunners like Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, the rule has added another layer of complexity. Both teams are playoff-bound and may be tempted to prioritize postseason health over regular season accolades, especially as the schedule intensifies.
With just weeks remaining in the regular season, every game takes on added significance—not just for playoff seeding but for individual legacies. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see whether two of the game's brightest stars can maintain their MVP-caliber performance while staying available enough to claim the hardware.
According to recent reporting, the Denver Nuggets center and the Oklahoma City Thunder guard are currently the top two favorites in MVP betting markets. However, their chances of claiming the award are under serious threat as both approach a critical eligibility threshold.
The NBA's regular-season MVP award has always carried immense prestige, with past winners shaping legacies and Hall of Fame cases. This season, though, the race has become as much about availability as ability.
- Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander have led their teams to the upper echelon of the league standings, each putting up exceptional numbers across multiple statistical categories.
- Both have featured prominently in advanced analytics and traditional box score metrics, consistently ranking among the NBA’s leaders in points, efficiency, and impact.
- Despite their dominance, both players are now in danger of not meeting the league’s minimum games played requirement for MVP eligibility due to injury management and rest protocols.
The NBA implemented stricter games played requirements for major awards to encourage player participation and reduce load management. The policy, which went into effect ahead of the 2023-24 season, has already influenced how teams and players approach rest and recovery.
For frontrunners like Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, the rule has added another layer of complexity. Both teams are playoff-bound and may be tempted to prioritize postseason health over regular season accolades, especially as the schedule intensifies.
With just weeks remaining in the regular season, every game takes on added significance—not just for playoff seeding but for individual legacies. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see whether two of the game's brightest stars can maintain their MVP-caliber performance while staying available enough to claim the hardware.
Sources
- [1]ESPN NBA