NBA Finals MVP Power Rankings as series shifts to Madison Square Garden

The 2026 NBA Finals haven’t gone exactly as expected so far. Despite playing both of their first two games on the road, the New York Knicks have gone up 2-0 on the San Antonio Spurs. Coming into the series, Victor Wembanyama was being crowned the best player in the NBA and the face of the league far too quickly, but without a championship to call their own since 1973, the Knicks have come out to play. Their early success has shaken up the NBA Finals MVP power rankings, so with the series headed to Madison Square Garden, who is in the lead to take home the Bill Russell award?

5. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Dylan Harper is just a rookie, and although his Spurs haven’t won an NBA Finals game yet, he is already having one of the best NBA Finals performances for a first year player since Magic Johnson made a name for himself with the showtime Los Angeles Lakers. Harper played just the eighth most minutes (22.6) on the Spurs in the regular season after the team drafted him second overall. He was also ranked as just the eighth-best player in this championship series coming into the matchup. The flashes of stardom from Ron Harper’s kid have been evident all season long, though.

The Rutgers product has been incredible under the bright lights of postseason basketball. His 15.5 points through two games are the second most for the Spurs, and while members of the team have struggled at times, Harper hasn’t looked like a rookie at all. Winning the Finals MVP seems like a long shot for Harper with San Antonio down 2-0 in the series, but if the team pulled off a comeback, it might be because the young rookie made the jump from great first-year player to megastar etched in NBA Finals history.

4. OG Anunoby, New York Knicks

OG Anunoby isn’t a flashy player. Unlike some of his Big Apple teammates, Anunoby is rarely seen giving interviews or making highlight plays. The British forward just gets the job done, though. Anunoby is one of the best perimeter wing defenders in the entire NBA.

He has also been hot on offense all postseason long. Anunoby has averaged 19.3 points per game through the playoffs while shooting 47.8% from deep. His playoff progression has continued in the NBA Finals, where he is averaging 17 points while shooting 45.5% from deep. Anunoby is just a dark horse to win the NBA Finals MVP, but if his hot shooting streak continues, he will certainly be in the running.

3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama was the favorite to win NBA Finals MVP coming into the series, but being down 2-0 means he is falling down the ladder. Jerry West, the inaugural winner of the award in 1969, is the only player who won Finals MVP on the losing team. If San Antonio were to come back in this series, though, then Wembanyama would almost surely be crowned MVP.

The former number one pick is clearly the best defensive player in the NBA. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award and has led the league in blocks per game in every season of his career. This championship series has been no different, as the Frenchman is averaging 3.5 blocks per game. Wembanyama alters team’s game plans because of his prowess as a rim protector. He does some crazy things on offense, too. At 7-foot-4, Wembanyama is an advanced shooter, ball handler, and interior finisher, and it has resulted in a series-leading 27.5 points per game thus far.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t been all perfect for Wembanyama so far. He was responsible for a turnover in Game 2 that directly resulted in a San Antonio loss. He had a chance to redeem himself with a game-winner opportunity, too, but he missed the buzzer-beater. Still, the talent is clear with Wembanyama, and if the Spurs come back, it would be hard to envision anyone else winning MVP.

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

A big talking point in the Western Conference Finals centered around Chet Holmgren’s struggles against Wembanyama. Therefore, come the NBA Finals, many expected Wemby to thrive against Karl-Anthony Towns, a fellow former first overall pick but a player not known for his defensive capabilities.

Towns has played incredibly against his big man matchup, though. He has played hard-nosed defense and made life difficult on Wembanyama. He has also played with physicality and intensity on offense, rather than backing down to the 7-foot-4 star. Towns has averaged 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds through two games. His +12.5 plus/minus is also the best mark of any Knicks or Spurs player. Towns, who is known as the best 3-point shooting center ever, is even shooting 42.9% from deep. His numbers would certainly warrant MVP consideration, but his teammate and the next player on this list has just been a little bit better so far.

1. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson is undersized and went in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. He has since become one of the best point guards in the NBA. The two-time college national champion and former National College Player of the Year has brought his winning ways to the Knicks, and they seem poised to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy because of his touch, IQ, and body control.

Brunson is averaging 25 points per game through two games. He has been at his best in the clutch, too. The point guard doesn’t seem to miss in crunch time, and he even hit the free throw to break a tie at the end of Game 2. He did miss the follow up free throw that would have made it a two-point game, but Brunson has been incredible since an early injury scare in Game 1. As of now, he is clearly the frontrunner to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award.

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