With the Knicks and Spurs set to tip the 2026 NBA Finals, the talk is already turning to who could turn a seven-game series into a Finals MVP trophy. The ladder is led by Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, with Karl-Anthony Towns, Stephon Castle, and OG Anun
The Bill Russell Trophy and the Larry O’Brien Trophy are the real prize. But right behind them—often deciding who gets remembered long after the confetti—sits something more personal: the Finals MVP.
It’s a title that can change a series in the eyes of the public. and it comes with a massive bonus and an edge. The NBA Finals MVP also lands in rare air: winning the award has meant capturing the championship in every Finals MVP case except 1969. when Lakers legend Jerry West lost the series to the Celtics but still won the trophy. For the teams preparing for the 2026 NBA Finals. that history sits in the background as the spotlight moves from team success to individual proof.
For this matchup, the “MVP ladder” watch starts with two names that feel impossible to ignore. Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks are ranked as the top two possibilities—because the performances required for this moment rarely belong to anyone else.
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
2026 playoff stats: 23.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 3.5 bpg
His case runs through a simple idea: not many players lead their teams to the NBA Finals by their third season. The list, as the argument goes, is tiny—Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and other legends.
Wembanyama fits that “special class” because his ascent has shown up in multiple ways. The spotlight isn’t just on talent—it’s on determination and presence. In a Finals, the argument goes, that kind of impact doesn’t fade when the games tighten.
His defense could be the series-shifter. When he’s in the paint, the Knicks—and teams like them—have to think twice before attacking the rim or shooting floaters. On offense, the numbers are already loud, and the way he scores keeps defenses guessing.
Wembanyama’s 27.3 ppg in the West Finals is one piece of the case. Another is the audacity of his shot selection. He isn’t shy about pulling up for 3s, no matter the situation. The most memorable punctuation is a gutsy 30-footer late in Game 1 of the conference finals.
And then there’s the way the Spurs are using him as a lob target to get easy dunks. If he turns the Finals into a performance that swings games at both ends, it becomes hard to see San Antonio losing.
2. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
2026 playoff stats: 26.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 6.6 apg
Brunson’s argument is built on steadiness—through stretches where other stars look human. The claim is that he has been steady and sure through much of the post-season, making a case for being an all-time Knick, “the best since Patrick Ewing at the very least.”
What the case points to is how he runs the offense and how he makes decisions. His court vision and awareness, his clever choices, his shooting from all angles, and his leadership have positioned New York for a championship.
The heart of it is the clutch. The argument is that he rarely makes mistakes when the pressure rises, and he doesn’t shy away from the moment.
The conversation around Brunson also leans into what people think they already know about size and athleticism. At barely 6-foot-2. the line is that his athletic ability is “like the athletic ability of an accountant. ” and that physical limitation is something he has overcome better than any player in recent history.
His signature moment is described with precision: his sizzling fourth quarter and overtime in Game 1 of the East Finals against the Cavs—big-shot-making under duress, when the game refused to be comfortable.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
2026 playoff stats: 16.9 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 5.9 apg
Towns’ argument starts with reliability. For the Knicks, he’s described as an automatic double-double and “has been since joining the club a few years ago.” He brings size and shooting range into the same sentence, and he is also consistently dominant on the boards.
It’s not just what he does—it’s what he adjusted to. When coach Mike Brown challenged Towns to become more of a passer from the high post, Towns responded immediately. The example given is the first round, when the Knicks found themselves in a 2-2 series with the Hawks and needed a shakeup.
As a result, Towns is averaging nearly as many assists in the postseason as Brunson.
Against Wembanyama, the issue becomes clear: size and matchups. Towns must play effective defense against the Spurs center, with the Knicks rotating defenders on him, and Towns also has to use his shooting range to force Wembanyama to stray from the post.
4. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
2026 playoff stats: 19.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 6.7 apg
Castle’s path is described as growth and maturity with few signs of the usual growing pains. The story being made is that 21-year-olds often endure tough stretches that become lessons learned—but Castle has had few of those moments.
Instead, his energy and aggressiveness have been evident at both ends of the floor. He isn’t spooked by the big stage. For a young player in a Finals, that matters.
The one vice he “shook free” of is turnovers. He becomes, in the description, the Spurs’ second-most dependable scorer—averaging three points above his regular-season contribution.
In a matchup built on stars, Castle’s defense against Brunson is presented as a possible difference-maker in the Finals.
There’s also a reference point from earlier: he and other Spurs guards managed to keep Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in check through much of the West Finals.
5. OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
2026 playoff stats: 19.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.9 apg
Anunoby is framed as the Knicks’ best two-way option—able to score and defend equally as well. In the Finals, the argument is that those are the minutes and matchups that matter most: the kind where a player can stay on the floor even if the shot isn’t falling.
Even if Anunoby’s offense is quiet, his defensive contribution is the key. That keeps him relevant in the tightest parts of the series.
The matchup logic is specific. There’s a reasonable expectation he could see time guarding Wembanyama, even with an obvious size disadvantage. The point is that his strength could force the Spurs center from the paint, which would take away the easiest looks and push him toward more mid-range shots.
The history lesson offered is about defense being enough: Andre Iguodala won Finals MVP in 2015 for his defense against Cleveland’s LeBron James.
The next 5:
6. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
7. Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs
8. De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
9. Josh Hart, New York Knicks
10. Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
A series where the Finals MVP isn’t simply the “most acclaimed” player is exactly what teams try to exploit—and exactly why this race stays alive. There’s no guaranteed lane to the trophy. The award doesn’t ride on an 82-game season; it rides on a best-of-seven series. where anything can happen and anyone can win it.
The Knicks and Spurs are about to find out who turns that volatility into something permanent—someone whose name ends up linked to both the series and the moment.
2026 NBA Finals Finals MVP ladder Victor Wembanyama Jalen Brunson Karl-Anthony Towns Stephon Castle OG Anunoby San Antonio Spurs New York Knicks