The NBA Cup is nearing its conclusion, and we’re now headed into the cold stretch of December, where players start heating up. Currently, in our 2025-26 NBA MVP Power Rankings, it’s a three-horse race.While there are contenders from near and far, it is hard to argue that the award won’t go to either of Luka Doncic, Shai-Gilegous Alexander, or Nikola Jokic. Before we wax lyrical, let’s talk about the landscape of the NBA currently and who else could vault into contention.In the Eastern Conference, it is looking clearer that the Detroit Pistons and Cade Cunningham have put a vice grip on the No. 1 seed. Jalen Brunson and the Knicks have risen quite steadily, but stray losses to Boston, Orlando and Miami have dented their claims. Giannis Antetokounmpo is back, which means he will inevitably lead the Bucks to a winning record. However, trade talks are heating up.The West gauntlet is a different story. There are four teams with winning records and offenses capable of winning it all. Oklahoma City Thunder headline a 20-1 record thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s incredible 20-point-a-game run, more on that later. The Lakers have claimed sole possession of the 2nd seed thanks to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic forming the league’s deadliest backcourt.The Denver Nuggets, however, are facing some bizarre problems despite Nikola Jokic’s incredible play, which included a 15-8-6 stat line in the first quarter! The Houston Rockets are now in full flight thanks to Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant’s newest tandem. There has been a real shakeup in this week’s rankings, but who is where?Who just missed out?7. Donovan Mitchell (Last Week’s Rank: 5th)8. Alperen Sengun: (Last Week’s Rank: 8th)9. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (Last Week’s Rank: 10th)10. Jalen Brunson (Last Week’s Rank: NA) (NEW) Sportskeeda NBA MVP Power Rankings 2025-26 Season: Latest Top 5 After Week 5T5 Tyrese MaxeyPrevious Ranking: — 6thPER: 23.35 | 60.9 TS% | Team record: 11-9 | 32.5 PPG, 7.5 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG, & 0.9 BPGTyrese Maxey’s scoring touch is phenomenal this season. Sure, there is the argument to be made that he’s played the most minutes this season. But, at the time of writing, he scored 35 points in 29 minutes. That’s the least he’s played all season.Ramona Shelburne of ESPN has already reported that the 76ers organization sees Tyrese as the face of the franchise ahead of Joel Embiid. Through 20 games, he is having the third-best scoring start, trailing only Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain. He is currently second in the league in scoring, third in field goals made, fourth in three-pointers, and sits at seventh in assists.A career-defining year for The Franchise.One specific stat that backs his MVP caseHe is the fastest player to reach 600 points, 100 assists, and 50 three-pointers in a season.T5. Austin ReavesPrevious Ranking: — 9th [NEW]PER: 24.32 | 68.0 TS% | Team record: 15-5 | 28.1 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.2 SPG, & 0.1 BPGTwo Lakers in the 2025-26 NBA MVP power rankings ladder? Yes, you are reading that right. Austin Reaves has been sensational this year and is a huge reason why the Lakers are so good. With career-highs across the board, there is no question that Reaves will likely get an all-star nod and will also be in contention for an all-NBA slot.He is on pace for the most efficient 25 ppg season by a guard in NBA history. So much so that in the rim and floater range, he’s shooting 65% and 85%, which is higher than Nikola Jokic. His career progression is quite similar to that of Kobe Bryant, with his fifth season points average exactly the same as that of the Lakers legend. His rise has been so ceremonious that many analysts, including yours truly, have put him on the top-10 list this year.From matching Steph Curry to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Reaves is having an all-time run. And for that he deserves to be fifth on this list.One specific stat that backs his MVP caseHe became the first Lakers guard this century to score 35 points or more on an absurd 80%+ from the field. Oh, and he also passed Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain in all-time Lakers games with 30+ PTS on 80%+ TS.4. Cade CunninghamPrevious Ranking: — 4thPER: 21.86 | 55.8 TS% | Team record: 15-2 | 28.2 PPG, 9.3 APG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG, & 0.8 BPGCade Cunningham continues to be the sole headliner from the Eastern Conference on our MVP power rankings ladder. After being named player of the month for November, there is little doubt the Pistons superstar is having a career breakout year. A Nike signature shoe set for 2027, in the driving seat for Detroit, second in the assists chart, is there anything Cade has not done?Well, he can defend too. Cade Cunningham recorded the first six steals and three blocks game as a point guard for the Pistons since Ben Wallace. He is currently second in the league in total clutch points but has edged out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on fourth-quarter scoring average. With Detroit playing Sade after his buckets, it is only fair that his new nickname, Smooth Operator, becomes colloquial. Best player in the East? Giannis might have to say something about that, but for now? Cunningham will hold on to that crown.One specific stat that backs his MVP caseHe set a new franchise record for highest points average in a month, finding the bottom of the net for 31.6T3. Luka DoncicPrevious Ranking: — 3rdPER: 29.44 | 62.7 TS% | Team record: 15-5 | 35.3 PPG, 8.9 APG, 8.9 RPG, 1.6 SPG, & 0.6 BPGThe NBA’s scoring leader was having a high-octane offensive week when his team was halted dead in its tracks by a scorching-hot Phoenix Suns. The Lakers have had momentum all week long, and it was disappointing to see a seven-game winning streak snapped. Nonetheless, there is almost no argument as to whether Luka Doncic deserves his place in our standings or not. Quite simply, there has been no better scorer this season.Just this week, he had two first quarters where he scored 20 points. He now has the most in NBA history, outright in that category. He was also named Western Conference player of the week. In the same week, he also became the fastest guard to reach 500 points, 100 assists, and 100 rebounds, tying his record from 2022.The sheer number of records he continues to set and break with every passing game is a testament to his improvement in conditioning this year. There is a sense of doubt around the Lakers’ ceiling this year, and a lot of it will depend on Doncic finding his groove.One specific stat that backs his MVP caseDoncic has the most 35-point games in a season by a point guard in Lakers history. We’ve only played 20 games this season. Accelerating.2. Nikola JokicPrevious Ranking: — 1stPER: 36.80 | 72.9 TS% | Team record: 13-4 | 29.6 PPG, 11.1 APG, 12.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG, & 0.8 BPGNikola Jokic, this last week, has done everything he can for the Nuggets to win; however, they’ve gone 2-2. That included an unlikely loss to a slow but resurgent Mavericks side. He even put up a 15-8-6 first quarter, becoming the first player in NBA history to do so.Jokic was also crowned the Western Conference player of the month on the back of an absurd November. He notched another 20-20-10 game. He still sits first in rebounds, first in assists, second in plus/minus, and fourth in total points scored. He is still shooting 62% from the field, 44% from three, and 85% from the stripe.And yet, his defensive numbers could not be worse.It is a surprise that by his lofty standards, his defensive performance could get so poor. There is no denying that he is entering conversations for the best player of all-time, based on his offensive dominance. Yet, this season’s NBA MVP award is not as shutout as it would seem. The player sitting on first would beg to differ.One specific stat that backs his MVP caseThe Nuggets have a 128.1 offensive rating with Nikola Jokic on the floor. That would be good for the highest offensive rating ever. One-of-one. 1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City ThunderPrevious Ranking: — 2ndPER: 33.15 | 67.7 TS% | Team record: 21-1 | 32.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG, & 0.7 BPGThe epitome of consistency, Shai Gilegous-Alexander has strung together a week that has helped him climb past Nikola Jokic on our 2025-26 NBA MVP power rankings ladder. He is on pace to join Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to score 30 points or more in 80% of the team’s games. He also now owns the second-longest streak of 20+ points scored consecutively, overtaking Chamberlain. And he is well on pace to break the actual record.He is still on pace for a 50-40-90 season, but he might need to work on his free throws. All that aside, his scoring prowess and ability to win games could not be better than it is currently. He is putting up the highest estimated plus minus ever, with + 11.1 every game, along with a +19.8 on-court rating. Simply put, he is perhaps the best scorer in the game.Gilgeous-Alexander is also leading the league in fourth-quarter points despite sitting out for 9 games. He has 80 clutch points. If not MVP, perhaps the clutch player of the year award will be going home with him.To add to his brilliance, he is usually considered a lacklustre shooter from behind the arc; however, in his last 15 games, he is shooting 52.7% from three.One specific stat that backs his MVP caseHe is the only guard, aside from Michael Jordan, to score 30 or more and shoot 50% or better from the field in three straight seasons.