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NBA MVP Rankings: Revenge is in the air as Luka, Wemby dominate
- Updated: November 10, 2026
Luka Doncic has been ballin out this season, averaging nearly 40 points per game. (Getty Images)
Welcome in to the inaugural Roundball Daily NBA Awards Rankings.
This is a big deal for us here– it’s our maiden voyage, our first true foray back into the weekly NBA awards rankings game since your boy used to write for Chris Sheridan over at SheridanHoops.com (RIP).
And the emotion that’s stirring up in us, that seems to be wafting around in the air like the scent of daisies in the spring or B.O. inside an NBA locker room isn’t pride, or gratitude, or a wistful nostalgia.
It’s revenge.
That’s because the NBA is so revenge-coded right now, it’s like millennials trying to get back at Father Time by adopting Gen Z slang. No cap.
Take our two leaders in the MVP rankings. Victor Wembanyama is on a yearlong take-no-prisoners revenge tour, which he undoubtedly kicked off in his head in between meditative breaths at his annual summer retreat to become a monk.
He’s balling so hard it’s like he has a personal vendetta against the rest of the league, like it was their fault he threw the ball away at the end of Game 2 or gave away a 29-point lead in Game 4.
Wemby is putting up sickening numbers– dominating so thoroughly you’d think he was James Talarico. He scorched the Mavs for a billboard-worthy 52 points 24 rebounds and 8 blocks — read that again– on Nov. 4, and then reeled off 30 and 14 boards, 29 and 7 and 40 and 11 in his next three games.
But he’s not the only MVP candidate running on pure spite.
It’s not like Nico Harrison will ever not be thought of as a complete buffoon after the Luka Doncic trade, but Luka is doing everything in his power to make that trade look just as indefensible as it did the night it went down.
Doncic is averaging nearly 40 points per game, to go along with 7.9 assists and 7.8 rebounds, and his Lakers are 10-2 to start the season after jettisoning LeBron.
MVP Rankings
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs– Breathe in the pettiness, breathe out acceptance. One more time– breathe, breathe in the anger, out with the complacency. Alright, Wemby’s meditative sessions probably aren’t quite like that, but he’s clearly in his Revenge Era, and he’s leveled up to a place few players have ever been so far this season.
He’s averaging a ridiculous 30.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and shooting 52.9% from the field. The only area where he could use some improvement is his 3-point shooting, which is actually at a career-low 32.3%, but we’re only through 11 games. Also, the Spurs are on a heater, having won 9 in a row after an 0-2 start.
2. Luka Doncic, L.A. Lakers– With a disappointing 32-point, 10-assist, 8-rebound, 5-steal night in a win over Atlanta on Monday, Luka’s scoring average dropped to 39.3 points per game. Smh. He also shot a mere 50% from the field in that game, dropping his season average to 49.8%. It’s too bad, because he was off to a generational start, too.
3. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder– It says a hell of a lot that the Thunder are 8-2 despite losing Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to awful injuries, and losing a cavalcade of solid players to offseason trades with the shadow of the Second Apron looming over the front office. SGA has just continued to go about his business, averaging 29.9 points and 4.9 assists, and OKC has won four in a row. As long as he’s on the court, they’re contenders.
4. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors– Steph seems to have been rejuvenated by the addition of more-than-capable rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, as he’s pouring in 30.6 points per game, shooting 50.3% from the field and 45.7% from 3. The Warriors are 8-3, a welcome sight after a few years of stale irrelevance. Most NBA observers had written off Golden State as a title contender in Steph’s golden years with the franchise, but if they can keep this up, the Dubs may have yet another unexpected run up their sleeves– and Curry will be in these rankings all season long.
5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics– Speaking of revenge. While Tatum may or may not have wanted Jaylen Brown out, the Celtics definitely did. And while Brown’s 76ers may be the best team in the league, Tatum is having the more MVP-caliber start. The 28-year-old is posting 27.1 points, 7.8 assists and 6 rebounds per, and his C’s are a surprising 9-2 (maybe Brad Stevens does know what he’s doing?). Boston also whupped up on the Sixers in Philly on Tuesday, 123-101, and Tatum outscored Brown, 21-13.
NEXT FIVE: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers, Ty Jerome (!) Memphis Grizzlies, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat, Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets.
Stay tuned for the Rookie, Most Improved, Coach, and Sixth Man rankings.
