MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Well, well, well. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially won his second MVP award, making him not only a two-time MVP, but also a possible two-time Finals MVP if the Oklahoma City Thunder advance and defeat the New York Knicks in the Finals. 

According to the weekly Kia MVP Ladder, during the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander was projected to win the award in 11 out of the 22 weeks, followed closely by Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama. During the first half of the season, Jokić held a clear edge over SGA, topping nine out of the 10 ladders before an injury sidelined the Serbian superstar for a month. During that stretch, SGA began his streak at the top of the rankings, holding the No. 1 spot for nine weeks straight. Near the end of the season, Wembanyama unexpectedly surged into the race, claiming the top position for two of the three final weeks of the season. Who knew that foul-bating could bring one this far?

All jokes aside, Gilgeous-Alexander had an incredible season, regardless of free throws. Throughout 68 regular-season games, SGA averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. Even with 7.9 made free throws made per game, he still averaged the second-most points in the league from field goals alone, scoring 23.19 points per game without free throws. 

Some fans may call his MVP “fake” because of foul calls, but  his consistency and offensive dominance made him deserving of the award. Night after night, SGA delivered for Oklahoma City and proved himself as one of the league’s best scorers and leaders.

DPOY: Victor Wembanyama

Victor WEMBANYAMA. WOW. Just wow. 

At just 22 years old, Wembanyama became the youngest Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history while also becoming  the first unanimous DPOY winner ever. In just his third year in the NBA,, Wemby has already etched himself as one of the league’s most dominant defenders. 

Honestly, it is difficult to even compare other candidates to a 7-foot-4 player with guard-like movement and agility. Wembanyama completely transformed the San Antonio Spurs defense and became the centerpiece of the team’s identity on that side of the court. 

This season, Wembanyama averaged 3.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game, far ahead of players like Chet Holmgren, who averaged 1.9 blocks and 0.6 steals. However, statistics alone do not fully show Wemby’s defensive impact. His reputation as an elite rim protector discourages opponents from attacking the paint altogether, forcing teams into more difficult perimeter shots. 

If injuries do not slow him down, Wembanyama is projected to win this award for the next decade. Sorry to all the other defenders; this is Wemby’s league now.

ROTY: Cooper Flagg

The “Maine Event” finally pulled through. 

After months of hype surrounding Kon Knueppel, ROTY voters finally gave the award to Cooper Flagg. While Knueppel had an impressive season as a role player and shooter, Flagg carried far more responsibility throughout the year. 

Conversely, Flagg entered the league as the youngest player in the NBA and was immediately handed the responsibility of helping rebuild a struggling franchise. Early in the season, coach Jason Kidd experimented with playing Flagg at point guard, which hurt his efficiency and overall production. However, once Flagg returned to his natural small forward position, his numbers improved dramatically.

This season, Flagg has averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game with two CAREER defining games. On April 3, 2026, against the Orlando Magic,  Flagg dropped 51 points at just 19 years old, becoming the youngest player ever to reach that mark.  Then, in the very next game against the Los Angeles Lakers, he dropped 45 points, a scoring feat that hasn’t been reached by a rookie since Wilt Chamberlain in 1960. 

When compared to LeBron James during his rookie season, Flagg recorded 11 games with 30 or more points and four games with 40 or more points, while LeBron had 13 30-point games and only one 40-point game during his rookie campaign. 

Conclusion:

This NBA season truly was one of the most exciting yet. At one corner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander secured back-to-back MVP awards in one of the most competitive races. At another, Victor Wembanyama made history with the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year victory ever. Finally, Cooper Flagg showed why he is considered the greatest American basketball prospect since LeBron James. 

Now one question remains: can these  young stars continue their dominance in the 2026-2027 season? All we have to do is wait for the next season to begin.