The 2025–26 NBA MVP race has taken a dramatic turn, with two of its biggest stars, Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo , seeing their candidacies severely jeopardized by injuries and the league’s strict new eligibility rules.

San Antonio Spurs , Wembanyama’s MVP-caliber production has been overshadowed by a left calf strain injury, which has led him to miss a total of 10 consecutive games, putting his season’s eligibility in serious doubt.

On the other hand, Milwaukee Bucks Giannis was making an elite statistical case, but a recent non-contact injury is now threatening his ability to meet the eligibility threshold, coupled with his team’s inconsistent play. Antetokounmpo suffered the strain early in a recent win over the Pistons. His projected recovery timeline is a signif

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