The Oklahoma City Thunder will have to do battle with Nikola Jokic on Sunday in a prime time slot on NBC.

Nikola Jokić continues to mend, which gives Luka Dončić a chance to move to No. 2 in the latest Kia MVP Ladder.

NBA players are most likely to win the MVP award this season? Here are the top contenders ranked based on their odds.

Prior to placing an NBA futures wager on which player will bring home the Most Valuable Player award in 2025-26, check out the odds listed below, including the top contenders like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with the rest of the noteworthy players in contention.

NBA.com noted that Jokić has been participating in on-court workouts over the past two weeks, signaling a return that preserves his candidacy — for now. With several back-to-backs remaining on Denver’s schedule, the Nuggets must balance competitive urgency with long-term health.

The NBA All-Star break is coming up in three weeks. Here's where the top MVP candidates rank based on their current betting odds to win the award.

Lakers predicted to part ways with $52M 4-time MVP, 4-time NBA champion, 21-time All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NBA MVP ladder as of January 25, 2026, showcases the league’s top performers as they jockey for the season’s most prestigious individual award. While the top four spots remain steady with Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander,