Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander and Nikola Jokić have been officially named the three finalists for this season's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award. Their selection continues a remarkable streak: for eight straight seasons the league’s top honor has gone to a player born outside the United States. Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, the point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, entered the campaign as the defending MVP after capturing the accolade last year.
He now has a chance to become the first back‑to‑back winner in the modern era of the award. Nikola Jokić, the Serbian center who anchors the Denver Nuggets, is seeking a fourth MVP title, having already secured the trophy in 2021, 2022 and 2024. The youngest of the trio, 20‑year‑old Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, is also in the mix.
In addition to his MVP candidacy, the French‑Japanese phenom is a nominee for Defensive Player of the Year and hopes to add the league’s most prestigious individual honor to his growing résumé. The international dominance of the MVP award began in 2019 when Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek‑born forward of the Milwaukee Bucks, captured his first trophy.
He repeated the feat in 2020, establishing a new paradigm that the league’s best player could come from any corner of the globe. Jokić continued the trend in 2021 and 2022, while Joel Embiid—born in Cameroon and later naturalized as an American citizen—won the award in 2023. Gilgeous‑Alexander, a native of Canada, added his name to the list in 2024, and now Wembanyama is poised to become the next foreign‑born MVP. Wembanyama’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric.
After a stellar rookie season, the 7‑foot‑4 forward made his playoff debut this spring and immediately left a mark. On Sunday night he poured in 35 points, setting a new franchise record for the San Antonio Spurs for most points scored in a player’s first postseason appearance. His performance helped the Spurs defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 111‑98 in Game 1 of the series, showcasing his unique blend of size, shooting range, and defensive versatility that has analysts calling him a generational talent.
The MVP race this year is particularly compelling because it pits three very different styles of play against each other. Gilgeous‑Alexander is celebrated for his explosive scoring bursts, elite playmaking, and ability to take over games in clutch moments.
Jokić, often described as the most skilled big man in NBA history, excels with his unparalleled court vision, passing precision, and high‑efficiency scoring from the post and beyond the arc. Wembanyama, meanwhile, offers a rare combination of rim protection, perimeter shooting, and mobility that makes him a matchup nightmare for any opponent. Beyond the individual accolades, the international streak underscores the NBA’s global growth.
The league’s scouting networks now span continents, and the influx of talent from Europe, Africa, Canada, and Asia has enriched the game’s competitive landscape. Young players worldwide see a clear pathway to the NBA and to the sport’s highest honors, a narrative reinforced each year when a non‑American player lifts the MVP trophy.
Fans and analysts alike are eagerly awaiting the final voting results, which will be announced after the regular season concludes. The voting panel, composed of sportswriters, broadcasters and select NBA executives, will weigh each finalist’s statistical output, team success, and overall impact on the court. While Gilgeous‑Alexander’s Thunder have been a playoff contender, Jokić’s Nuggets remain a perennial powerhouse, and the Spurs, buoyed by Wembanyama’s emergence, have shown flashes of brilliance that could sway voters. In addition to the MVP discussion, the NBA’s broadcast schedule continues to expand.
Sky Sports, for example, will air live NBA games, including the upcoming 2026 playoffs. Viewers can catch the Toronto Raptors facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sky Sports+ starting at 11 p.m. on Monday, with highlights and additional video content available throughout the week. The league’s partnership with streaming platforms also offers contract‑free access to live games, ensuring fans worldwide can follow the action in real time.
As the season draws to a close, the narrative of three international stars battling for basketball’s most coveted individual award adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already thrilling campaign. Whether the final vote crowns the seasoned Serbian veteran, the Canadian guard seeking back‑to‑back glory, or the French‑Japanese prodigy making his first bid, the outcome will further cement the NBA’s status as a truly global sport.