As the 2026-27 NBA season enters Week 4, there is really no denying where Luka Doncic stands in the MVP race. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is clearly the MVP favorite right now, but several stars around the league are making noise behind him, including Golden State Warriors two-time MVP Stephen Curry.
The Warriors started the 2026-27 NBA season losing each of their first three games, leading many to believe this was the end of their chances of being competitive at the end of Curry's career. Between Yaxel Lendeborg's emergence as the favorite for Rookie of the Year and Curry putting the team on his back, the Warriors are now 7-3 and riding a seven-game win streak heading into Monday night's battle with the New Orleans Pelicans.
During this seven-game win streak, Curry has averaged 33.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 8.5 percent from 3-point range. Curry only trails Doncic for the highest scoring average over the last two weeks, and he ranks second in the league in scoring this season, not including Anthony Edwards.
Does this mean Curry is right behind Doncic in the MVP rankings? One could make a very compelling argument for Curry to be right next to Luka in the MVP race right now, and his resume will only continue to grow as the Warriors keep winning games.
To be putting up the stats he is at 38 years old, coming off a year in which he dealt with knee problems that kept him sidelined for over two months, is simply remarkable. Now, the question is whether Curry can continue to find so much success as the season progresses.
At this point in his career, all that matters to Curry is winning, and he will be doing everything he can to continue putting the Warriors on the path to success. Between this and his high-level performances recently, Curry finds himself gaining a lot of momentum in the latest MVP rankings.
Previous 2026-27 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 2 | Week 1 | Preseason
1. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers
Previous ranking: #1
2026-27 season stats: 9 games, 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 49.8 FG%, 41.9 3P%
What Doncic has achieved during the first month of the 2026-27 season has been video-game-like. Aside from the fact that the Lakers are 9-2 with the best record in the West and best offense in the NBA because of Luka, he has etched his name next to Wilt Chamberlain in NBA lore.
As a result of averaging over 40 points per game through his first nine games, Doncic joined Chamberlain as the only players in league history to average at least 40 points through their first nine games of a season.
So far this season, Doncic has scored at least 40 points in six games, including four straight 40-point scoring nights and two games with at least 50 points. Victor Wembanyama's recent 52-point game is the only other 50-point game in the NBA this season.
With his fourth consecutive 40-point game on Friday against Portland, Doncic joined Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, and George Mikan as the only Lakers to accomplish this feat during the regular season. He also passed LeBron James and Chamberlain with his 62nd career game with 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, moving into a tie with Michael Jordan for first all-time.
It seems like Doncic is setting a new record every single game, and with his scoring output, it's hard to argue that he shouldn't be the MVP.
2. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs
Previous ranking: #2
2026-27 season stats: 10 games, 29.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.9 blocks, 50.5 FG%, 30.6 3P%
This past week, Victor Wembanyama put together one of the best performances we've seen from a big man in NBA history. Not only did Wemby score 52 points in the San Antonio Spurs' 112-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks, but he also had 22 rebounds and eight blocks.
Wembanyama joined Bob McAdoo as the only two players in league history since 1973 to record at least 50 points, 20 rebounds, and five blocks in a single game.
Victor Wembanyama with a CAREER NIGHT to lead the Spurs to a win 😤
🔸52 points (career-high)
🔸24 rebounds
🔸8 blocks
🔸2 steals🔸16-of-28 FG
🔸19-of-23 FTHe is the 2nd player since 1973 to record 50+ PTS, 20+ REB, and 5+ BLK in a single game, joining Bob McAdoo! pic.twitter.com/U3su3kHcM2
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 5, 2026
Even with this massive performance, Wembanyama wasn't even focused on the history and his career-high scoring night. Instead, he focused on what he could've done better.
“I wish I set better screens towards the end and made more free throws,” Wemby said after the game. “But I can't be perfect. So, pretty good.”
The Spurs have now won eight straight games behind Wembanyama's dominance, the longest active win streak in the league. It will be interesting to see how he matches up against Curry, another MVP favorite, during NBA Cup group play on Friday night.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
Previous ranking: #3
2026-27 season stats: 10 games, 29.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 46.1 FG%, 39.1 3P%
When Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Chet Holmgren went down with their respective injuries, it seemed like all hope was lost for the Oklahoma City Thunder. A lot of weight was being placed upon Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's shoulders to carry this team, and he has done so to this point.
However, Gilgeous-Alexander is doing it in more ways than just scoring. Even though he had back-to-back 40-point performances against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gilgeous-Alexander's gravity and ability to get others involved as the Thunder's primary passer have suddenly made rookies Bennett Stirtz and Aday Mara real factors for this team.
The Thunder are now 8-2 overall this season and have won four straight games behind SGA's leadership. This is direct proof of Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP qualities.
4. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
Previous ranking: Not Ranked
2026-27 season stats: 8 games, 31.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 49.7 FG%, 44.7 3P%
What makes Curry's recent performances so special is the fact that this is his 18th season, he is 38 years old, and he is currently second in the NBA behind only Doncic in scoring. Remarkably, Steph is putting up these kinds of numbers at his age, and he now stands alone in 40-point game history.
With 41 points in a 126-119 OT win over the Orlando Magic, Curry registered his 16th game with 40 or more points since turning 35 years old. That passes LeBron James (15) for the most such games by a player 35-plus years old in NBA history. This game also resulted in the Warriors' seventh straight win, making them 7-3 on the year after starting 0-3.
The Warriors are the first team to achieve this since the 1950-51 Boston Celtics, and Curry has his fingerprints all over Golden State's success. In this seven-game span, Curry has recorded four games with 30-plus points and is shooting 48.5 percent from 3-point range.
Article Continues BelowHe may be older and nearing the end of his career, but at this pace, Curry may wind up adding a third MVP to his already crowded trophy case.
5. Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers
Previous ranking: #7
2026-27 season stats: 11 games, 26.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 48.1 FG%, 34.1 3P%
There are arguments to be made for plenty of players to be included in the top five of the MVP ranking in this very spot. Although Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic are having great starts to the 2026-27 season, Tyrese Maxey is very deserving of being included in these MVP rankings.
The Philadelphia 76ers are 9-2 to begin the season and are currently No. 1 in ClutchPoints' latest power rankings. LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid have each contributed to this hot start for Philly, but the undisputed leader of this team is Tyrese Maxey.
Through 11 games, Maxey has averaged a team-high 26.9 points per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from 3-point range. He also ranks second on the team in assists behind LeBron.
Offensively, we all know what Maxey is capable of doing. However, the improvements he's made defensively and how locked in he's been on that end of the court next to Brown and Edgecombe have allowed the Sixers to become one of the best defensive teams in the league. Two-way play matters, and that is why Maxey gets the top-five nod in these MVP rankings.
Just missing the cut
6. Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 6 last week]
7. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets [Ranked No. 4 last week]
8. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons [Ranked No. 5 last week]
9. Cooper Flagg – Dallas Mavericks [Ranked No. 8 last week]
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Miami Heat [Ranked No. 9 last week]