Nobody knows for sure who will win the 2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP, but betting odds and expert chatter point to a small group of frontrunners, with Victor Wembanyama near the top of most lists.

Current favorites and odds

Sportsbooks and analysts are leaning toward a mix of rising megastars and established names for All-Star MVP.

  • Victor Wembanyama: Often listed as the shortest-odds favorite for MVP in the new USA vs. World format, reflecting his two-way impact and competitive edge in showcase games.
  • Tyrese Maxey: Among the top USA “Stars” candidates, getting short odds thanks to his scoring burst and guard-friendly All-Star environment.
  • Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown: Slotted in the next tier with mid-range odds, all good fits to rack up points and assists in a high-scoring exhibition.
  • Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, LeBron James, Donovan Mitchell: Veteran and superstar options in the +1200 to +1700 range (exact numbers vary by book), always live if they decide to hunt the award.

One article highlighting game predictions lists Victor Wembanyama at around +450 for MVP, with names like Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Cunningham, Brunson, Doncic, Durant, Booker, LeBron, and Mitchell following behind in the odds table.

Mini table: leading MVP candidates

Player Team context Approx. MVP odds tier
Victor Wembanyama World team focal point, two-way star Favorite (around +400 to +500)
Tyrese Maxey USA guard, high-usage scorer Front-tier contender (around +1000)
Cade Cunningham USA playmaking wing/guard Mid-tier contender (around +1100)
Jalen Brunson USA guard, big-usage scorer Mid-tier contender (around +1200)
Luka Doncic World superstar playmaker Mid-to-upper tier (around +1200 to +2700 depending on book)
Kevin Durant USA veteran elite scorer Similar mid range (roughly +1200 and longer)
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Why Wembanyama is a trendy pick

Analysts keep circling Wembanyama because he combines All-Star-style flash with real defensive impact and a strong desire to put on a show.

  • He has already shown in past All-Star formats that he takes the event seriously, stuffing the box score with points, rebounds, and blocks in limited minutes.
  • In a USA vs. World setup, the World side may lean heavily on his shot creation and rim protection, which boosts his usage and visibility for voters.
  • Commentators on TV segments and prediction shows even call him their “MVP pick” on the assumption he’ll play hard while others coast more.

One piece notes he posted roughly 17 points, 7 rebounds, and multiple blocks in a shorter, tournament-style All-Star appearance last year, which is exactly the kind of all-around line that wins MVP if his team wins again.

Other storylines and sleeper angles

There’s also buzz around guards and wings who can get hot and hijack the award in a single quarter.

  • USA guards like Maxey and Brunson are ideal for this format because they dominate the ball, pull up from deep, and can pile up assists and highlight plays.
  • Established icons such as LeBron and Durant typically only win if they clearly “decide” to go for it, since voters often favor fresh faces now that guys like Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum already have recent All-Star MVPs.
  • Bettors also look for players whose team is favored to win the mini-tournament; some odds boards like the World side slightly, which further nudges Wembanyama and Doncic into the spotlight.

Forum-style discussions around All-Star MVP are usually pretty divided: some fans love speculating on who will go off, while others shrug and say the defense is so light that “anyone who gets hot” can take it.

Historical context (for expectations)

Looking at recent winners shows how often explosive scoring and narrative matter.

  • 2025: Stephen Curry took MVP with his trademark shooting spectacle.
  • 2024: Damian Lillard rode a barrage of deep threes to grab the award.
  • 2023: Jayson Tatum exploded for a record-setting scoring night to secure MVP.
  • Before that, names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant all won by combining big scoring totals with memorable stretches of dominance.

So if you’re trying to guess who will win All-Star MVP this year, the most realistic profile is:

  1. On the favored or winning team (USA or World).
  2. High-usage scorer or do-everything star.
  3. Motivated to push the pace instead of cruising.

By that logic, Victor Wembanyama is a very reasonable prediction, with Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, and a few superstar wildcards like Luka Doncic or Kevin Durant right behind him.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.