Monday Monologue: Checking In On the MVP Race

RealGM Radio

RealGM NBA Radio with Wes Goldberg

Sports News, Basketball, Sports, News

4.7 • 627 Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominates the NBA MVP straw poll, raising the question: Is he set for back-to-back MVP awards? Key rivals like Nikola Jokic and Cade Cunningham trail behind, but could Cade’s commanding offensive impact propel the Detroit Pistons to unexpected heights? Wes Goldberg uncovers surprising shifts in MVP consensus, spotlighting Tyrese Maxey’s underrated value to the Philadelphia 76ers and Donovan Mitchell’s consistent excellence for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Who else deserves a top-five MVP spot—Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brown, or Victor Wembanyama? RealGM Radio is powered in part by North Station Media (CLNS). For advertising or media inquiries, contact info@clnsmedia.com 🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more NBA insights and analysis! Follow RealGM Twitter: https://x.com/RealGM Follow Wes Goldberg Twitter: https://x.com/wcgoldberg PrizePicks: PrizePicks is the best place to get real money sports action. With over 10 million members and billions of dollars in awarded winnings, PrizePicks has made daily fantasy sports accessible to all. You just pick MORE or LESS on at least two players for a shot to win up to 1000x your cash! Run Your Game all season long on PrizePicks. Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!

Transcript

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0:30.5	All right, what's up?
0:32.6	It's Real Jam Radio Monday Monologue here.
0:35.0	We're going to take an updated look at the MVP race,
0:40.7	including maybe a little bit of a surprise on my number two and number three spots on the ballot.
0:41.9	I'll explain after this.
0:43.1	Let's jump in.
0:53.7	All right. What's up? Welcome to Real GM Radio little Monday monologue for you to start off the week.
1:00.1	And I want to do it by starting with a look at the MVP straw poll that Timbont Temp does over at ESPN.
1:07.8	He publishes this a few times sporadically over the course of the season. It feels like
1:13.1	he's doing it less this year. I think this is only the second one that he's done. I'm a contributor
1:19.3	to the straw poll, full disclosure here, and I'll tell you what my ballot was here in a second,
1:24.5	but the overall ballot here, the final straw poll results, had
1:29.5	Shea Gilles Alexander, number one, by a mile, 100 total votes, 78 first place votes.
1:35.6	Yolkich was number two with 18 first place votes.
	...

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