A final straw poll of 100 NBA insiders provides an updated look at the NBA’s major individual awards as the regular season winds down, with the MVP race remaining a central focus.
The survey frames the late-season conversation around whether Victor Wembanyama’s recent push has changed the shape of the race at the top. In the latest snapshot, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the player insiders are currently selecting most often for MVP, reflecting where the voting mood stands at this stage of the season.
MVP: Where the vote stands now
The poll serves as a temperature check rather than an official ballot, capturing how a broad group of voters and league observers view the award race right now. With Gilgeous-Alexander leading the straw poll, the results underscore his position in the conversation as the season reaches its closing stretch.
Rookie of the Year: A parallel spotlight
The same straw poll also turns to the Rookie of the Year race, offering a current snapshot of which first-year player is drawing the most support among insiders. As with MVP, the results reflect the present state of the race based on insider voting in the survey.
With awards discussions often shaped by late-season performance and availability, the poll captures how insiders are weighing the final weeks of the schedule across both races.