Some feel that Denver Nuggets megastar Nikola Jokić was robbed of his fourth NBA MVP award last season.
Well, if a brand new, offseason poll from ESPN is accurate, Jokić won’t have to wait long to collect the trophy once more.
ESPN’s “Summer Forecast panel” voted to predict who will win NBA MVP in 2025-26, and the Serbian phenomenon came out on top. By the way, this panel is comprised of — in the words of ESPN — “NBA experts, including reporters, editors and analysts.”
Each member of the panel was tasked with ranking their top three choices for MVP (and other major awards), with a first-place vote getting five points, a second-place vote, three; and a third-place vote, one.
Jokić topped the list with 83 points, ahead of Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić (second place, 62 points) and reigning MVP and NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder (third place, 46 points).
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Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards tied for fourth, with nine points apiece. Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant finished fifth in the voting with eight points.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne provided some context to the poll.
“Either voter fatigue wears off quickly, or voters were very impressed by Nikola Jokic’s head-to-head battle with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the second round of the 2025 playoffs,” Shelburne wrote.
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“The three-time MVP came in as a heavy favorite to win for a fourth time in our preseason survey, almost doubling the votes for SGA to repeat. Voters also seemed to be impressed by Luka Doncic’s offseason transformation as the svelte version of the Los Angeles Lakers point guard came in second in early voting.”
“Team success always plays a factor in voting, which is probably why SGA has slipped to third here,” Shelburne continued. “In other words, he already elevated the Thunder to a championship level and was recognized as the MVP for doing it. But what if there’s even another level for him — and the youngest championship team in decades — to reach?”
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