With the 2025-26 NBA season nearing, the MVP race is already building around familiar contenders. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns with the same roster that powered his dominance last year. Nikola Jokic comes off a career season with a lineup designed to elevate his game even further. Luka Doncic now has the right additions that let him lock in on offense without distractions. Still, Blake Griffin insists one superstar is being overlooked — Milwaukee Bucks superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For the first time in his career, Giannis Antetokounmpo begins a season without another superstar beside him in Milwaukee. In just six months, the Bucks parted ways with Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Damian Lillard, leaving Myles Turner as the closest thing to a co-star.
Turner brings value as a steady, traditional center, but he falls short of All-NBA caliber. Blake Griffin believes this shift will open the door for Giannis to play with a level of freedom the league has yet to witness.
“Me and Candace had the discussion, and I said, ‘You know what? I’m gonna go Giannis (as the) MVP.’ I think his team can still be top four in the East, and I also think without sort of the help that he’s had around him, he’s going to be playing close to 40 minutes a night,” said Griffin when asked who he expects to win this season’s NBA MVP award, per Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston.
Another MVP season for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Antetokounmpo will almost certainly carry the bulk of the workload this season for a Bucks team lacking both talent and depth, especially under Doc Rivers, a coach known for leaning heavily on his stars when it comes to minutes.
The way the NBA MVP is judged has evolved, with team success now weighing just as heavily as individual numbers. The Eastern Conference is as competitive as ever, with the Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons making strides with their young cores, while the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks enter the season with deep, talented rosters.
The Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks also have the potential to emerge as surprise contenders. For Milwaukee, given the lack of depth on the roster, every win will demand extra effort, and the challenge will become even steeper if injuries occur.
If there is one thing certain about Giannis, it is that the two-time MVP elevates his game when people are quick to dismiss him and the Bucks. With many analysts already writing off Milwaukee’s title chances and downplaying Giannis’ impact heading into the new season, he now has even greater motivation to prove them wrong.
