MVP race shifts
Victor Wembanyama has overtaken Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander as the MVP favorite in the latest rankings, tightening what’s been SGA’s race all season. (oklahoman.com) Games‑played eligibility could decide awards for stars like Cade Cunningham and SGA as the season winds down. (sportingnews.com)
NBA.com’s weekly Kia MVP Ladder elevated Victor Wembanyama to No. 1 in its March 27, 2026 update. (nba.com) The NBA story cited Wembanyama’s recent defensive burst — 17 blocks over his last three games — and noted the Spurs sit within range of the West’s top seed as reasons for the move. (nba.com) Betting markets tightened behind that momentum: DraftKings odds listed Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander at roughly -800 while Victor Wembanyama moved from about +2200 earlier in the month to +1300 as of late March. (si.com) Sporting News’ awards tracker shows current games‑played totals relevant to eligibility: Cade Cunningham 61, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander 60, Victor Wembanyama 57 and Nikola Jokić 57, with the 65‑game rule and a 62‑game season‑ending exception still governing award qualification. (sportingnews.com) The NBPA publicly challenged the 65‑game cutoff after Cunningham’s collapsed lung, urging an exception for significant injuries and amplifying calls from Cunningham’s agent and teammates. (sports.yahoo.com) Cunningham has appeared in 61 games and is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds this season, numbers the NBPA says merit award consideration even if he falls short of the 65‑game threshold; Detroit’s roster sits 52‑19 overall. (sports.yahoo.com) Sporting News notes Gilgeous‑Alexander currently has a clear path to 65 games with “wiggle room,” while Jokić can miss at most one more contest and still reach the minimum for award eligibility. (sportingnews.com)
