NBA 2026/27 Season: Victor Wembanyama Starts as MVP Favorite

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents NBA 2026/27 Season: Victor Wembanyama Starts as MVP Favorite.

If you've watched Victor Wembanyama over the past few years, this news probably didn't come out of nowhere – it was only a matter of time. The Athletic reports: Wembanyama enters a Regular Season as the favorite for the NBA MVP award for the first time in his career.

For the Frenchman, this is a genuine premiere. In the betting odds, he's never been at the very top before – now he is, and that's before the first tip-off of the new season has been thrown up. The move to the top shows how consistently bookmakers rate his rise in the league.

Who's Behind Wembanyama in the Odds?

The URL of The Athletic's analysis carries three names in the title: Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA). That makes it clear who leads the favorites and who counts as serious competition. Jokic and SGA have split the award between them in recent years – both remain powerful contenders, but the direction at the top is unmistakable.

What's Changing for the New Season?

For you as a fan, that means: anyone betting on the award this season – whether in an office pool with colleagues, in fantasy basketball, or just watching the betting lines – needs to settle on Wembanyama as the expected number one. Those looking for higher odds and thus more risk will look to the second tier. The exciting question is whether Wembanyama will confirm his favorite status over the season or whether Jokic and SGA will still pass him.

What to Keep an Eye On

The Athletic published the odds overview on October 19, 2026 – right before the start of the Regular Season. Once the first games tip off, the odds can shift quickly: injuries, team performances, and individual stats traditionally play a major role in the MVP race. Those who get on it early have the best overview – and the first real data for their own assessment.

As of: October 19, 2026. The NBA Regular Season is just around the corner.