The NBA Best Player Award 2025-26

May 16, 2026, 18:30
CanadaSports
A2

The NBA Best Player Award 2025-26

Introduction

The NBA will name the Most Valuable Player (MVP) on Sunday, May 17.

Main Body

The news starts at 7:30 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video. Three players can win: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama. All three players are not from the USA. Victor Wembanyama is from France. He wants to be the first French player to win. Nikola Jokic wants his fourth award. This is a very big goal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played very well. He scored 31.1 points in every game. His team won many games this year. Other players won awards too. Victor Wembanyama is the best at defense. Cooper Flagg is the best new player.

Conclusion

We will know the MVP on May 17 before the big games start.

Learning

🌍 Talking About Origins

In this text, we see a simple way to say where someone comes from:

  • Victor Wembanyama is from France.

The Pattern: Person + is + from + Country

Examples from the text:

  • He is from France.
  • They are not from the USA.

🏆 Comparing 'The Best'

When we want to say someone is number one, we use the best at [something]:

  • Victor Wembanyama is the best at defense.

Simple Tip: Use "the best" for the top person →\rightarrow Use "very well" for a good action.

  • Action: Shai played very well.
  • Status: Victor is the best.

Vocabulary Learning

win
to succeed in a competition
Example:She will win the race if she trains hard.
game
an activity that people play for enjoyment or competition
Example:We played a game of basketball after school.
player
someone who plays a sport
Example:Tom is a good player on the soccer team.
team
a group of people who work together
Example:The team practiced every day.
goal
an aim or target
Example:Her goal is to become a doctor.
best
of the highest quality or most excellent
Example:This is the best cake I have ever tasted.
new
not old or previously known
Example:She bought a new book yesterday.
first
coming before all others in time
Example:He was the first person to arrive.
big
large in size or importance
Example:They built a big house in the countryside.
every
each one of all
Example:Every child should get a chance to learn.
many
a large number of
Example:Many people visited the museum.
award
a prize given for achievement
Example:She received an award for her painting.
name
to give a title or designation
Example:Please name your favorite color.
know
to have information or understanding
Example:Do you know how to solve this problem?
start
to begin
Example:The movie will start at 7 p.m.
want
to desire
Example:I want a cup of tea.
B2

NBA Announces Date for 2025-26 Most Valuable Player Award

Introduction

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that the winner of the 2025-26 Most Valuable Player (MVP) award will be revealed on Sunday, May 17.

Main Body

The announcement will take place at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Amazon Prime Video, during the pregame show for Game 7 between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The three finalists are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs). If an international player wins, it will be the eighth year in a row that a non-U.S. player has received the award, continuing a trend that started in 2019. In total, this would be the twelfth time an international player has won since 1994. Each candidate has a significant goal. For example, Wembanyama would become the first French player to win the award, whereas a fourth victory for Jokic would place him in an elite group of legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's announcement comes just before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, which is similar to the timing of his 2025 win. Statistically, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game, helping his team achieve the league's best record of 64-18. At the same time, the NBA has confirmed several other awards. Victor Wembanyama was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won Clutch Player of the Year. Other winners include Cooper Flagg as Rookie of the Year and Brad Stevens as Executive of the Year. However, the Coach of the Year award and the All-NBA team selections have not yet been decided.

Conclusion

The MVP winner will be announced on May 17, just before the Western Conference Finals begin.

Learning

🚀 The 'Connector' Shift: Moving from Simple to Sophisticated

An A2 student says: "Wembanyama is French. He wants to win. Jokic wants to win too."

A B2 student says: "Wembanyama would become the first French player to win, whereas a fourth victory for Jokic would place him in an elite group."

The Secret Weapon: Contrast Connectors

To reach B2, you must stop using only "but" and "and." The article uses high-level transition words to link complex ideas. Let's analyze the three heavy-hitters found here:

  1. Whereas →\rightarrow Used to show a direct contrast between two different people or things in one sentence.

    • Example: "I love basketball, whereas my brother prefers football."

  2. Meanwhile →\rightarrow Used when two things are happening at the same time, or to switch the focus to a different person.

    • Example: "The coach is shouting at the players. Meanwhile, the fans are cheering."

  3. However →\rightarrow A formal way to say "but." It usually starts a new sentence to show a contradiction.

    • Example: "The MVP is decided. However, the Coach of the Year is not."

💡 Pro Tip for Fluency

Notice the phrase: "continuing a trend that started in 2019."

Instead of saying "This is a trend. It started in 2019," B2 speakers use -ing (continuing) to connect an action to the result of a previous sentence. This makes your English sound like a flow rather than a list of facts.

Vocabulary Learning

announcement (n.)
A formal statement about something.
Example:The announcement of the new policy surprised everyone.
revealed (v.)
To make known something that was hidden.
Example:The magician revealed the hidden card.
pre-game (adj.)
Happening before a game.
Example:The pre-game warm-up lasted an hour.
game (n.)
A competitive activity.
Example:The basketball game went into overtime.
finalist (n.)
A competitor in the final round.
Example:She was a finalist in the national spelling bee.
international (adj.)
Involving more than one country.
Example:The international conference attracted scholars worldwide.
trend (n.)
A general direction of change.
Example:The trend of remote work has increased.
continuing (v.)
To keep going.
Example:The project is continuing despite delays.
elite (adj.)
Select group of the best.
Example:Only elite athletes can compete in the Olympics.
legend (n.)
A famous, celebrated person.
Example:Michael Jordan is a basketball legend.
statistically (adv.)
In a way that uses statistics.
Example:Statistically, the team has the highest win rate.
average (v.)
To calculate the mean.
Example:She averaged 20 points per game.
points (n.)
Units of score.
Example:He scored 25 points in the match.
assists (n.)
Passes that lead to a score.
Example:He recorded 10 assists during the game.
rebounds (n.)
Recovering the ball after a missed shot.
Example:She grabbed 12 rebounds in the game.
record (n.)
The best performance.
Example:He set a new record for fastest 100m.
league (n.)
An organized group of teams.
Example:The NBA is a professional basketball league.
defensive (adj.)
Relating to defense.
Example:The defensive strategy stopped the opponent.
player (n.)
An athlete.
Example:The player signed a new contract.
award (n.)
A prize given for achievement.
Example:She received an award for her research.
winner (n.)
The person who wins.
Example:He was the winner of the contest.
first (adj.)
Initial or earliest.
Example:She was the first to finish the race.
fourth (adj.)
The fourth in order.
Example:He finished in fourth place.
group (n.)
A collection of people.
Example:The group studied together.
timing (n.)
The arrangement of events in time.
Example:Good timing can make a speech more powerful.
similar (adj.)
Resembling.
Example:Their styles are similar.
coach (n.)
Person who trains athletes.
Example:The coach gave the team a pep talk.
executive (n.)
A senior manager.
Example:The executive decided on the new policy.
team (n.)
A group of players.
Example:The team celebrated their victory.
selection (n.)
The act of choosing.
Example:Her selection for the scholarship was announced.
decided (v.)
To make a decision.
Example:They decided to postpone the event.
best (adj.)
Of the highest quality.
Example:She chose the best option.
record (v.)
To capture or document.
Example:They recorded the interview for the documentary.
C2

NBA Determination of the 2025-26 Most Valuable Player Award

Introduction

The National Basketball Association has scheduled the disclosure of the 2025-26 Most Valuable Player (MVP) recipient for Sunday, May 17.

Main Body

The announcement is slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT via Amazon Prime Video, coinciding with the pregame coverage of a Game 7 contest between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The three designated finalists are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. Should the award be conferred upon an international player, it would constitute the eighth consecutive season of such a trend, extending a trajectory that commenced in 2019. Historically, this would mark the twelfth instance of an international recipient since 1994. Specific institutional stakes are associated with the candidates. A victory for Wembanyama would establish the first French recipient of the award, while a fourth victory for Jokic would place him in an elite cohort consisting of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James. Regarding Gilgeous-Alexander, the temporal proximity of the announcement to Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals—which the Thunder host against the Spurs on Monday—mirrors the scheduling sequence of his previous MVP conferral in 2025. Statistically, Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game over 68 appearances, contributing to a league-leading 64-18 record. Concurrent with this process, the NBA has finalized several other seasonal accolades. Victor Wembanyama was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the Clutch Player of the Year award. Additional honors include Keldon Johnson (Sixth Man of the Year), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Most Improved Player), Cooper Flagg (Rookie of the Year), Brad Stevens (Executive of the Year), DeAndre Jordan (Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year), Moussa Diabaté (Hustle Award), and Derrick White (Sportsmanship Award). The Coach of the Year award and various All-NBA designations remain pending.

Conclusion

The MVP recipient will be identified on May 17, preceding the commencement of the Western Conference Finals.

Learning

The Architecture of Formal Nominalization

At the B2 level, writers rely on verbs to drive action. At the C2 level, the focus shifts to Nominalization—the process of turning verbs or adjectives into nouns to create an objective, institutional, and 'weighty' tone. This text is a masterclass in transforming simple sports reporting into a formal record.

1. The De-Personalization Shift

Contrast a B2 sentence with the text's C2 construction:

  • B2 (Verb-driven): The NBA decided who would win the MVP and will announce it on May 17.
  • C2 (Noun-driven): The National Basketball Association has scheduled the disclosure of the 2025-26 Most Valuable Player (MVP) recipient...

By replacing the verb announce with the noun disclosure, the writer shifts the focus from the act of speaking to the event of the revelation. This creates a professional distance characteristic of high-level academic and bureaucratic English.

2. Lexical Precision in 'State' Descriptions

Note the use of "conferred upon" and "constitute."

Instead of saying "If an international player wins... it would be the eighth year in a row," the text uses:

*"Should the award be conferred upon an international player, it would constitute the eighth consecutive season..."

  • Conferred upon: A high-register alternative to given or awarded, implying a formal granting of a title.
  • Constitute: Used here not just to mean be, but to signify that the event forms a part of a larger pattern.

3. The 'Temporal Proximity' Construct

One of the most sophisticated phrases in the text is "the temporal proximity of the announcement."

  • B2 approach: The announcement is happening close to Game 1...
  • C2 approach: The temporal proximity [Noun Phrase] of the announcement...

By grouping 'time' (temporal) and 'closeness' (proximity) into a single complex noun phrase, the writer achieves a level of density that allows for a precise comparison of schedules without using clunky adverbs like "nearly" or "almost."

C2 Takeaway: To elevate your writing, identify your main verbs and ask: "Can this action be transformed into a noun to make the sentence feel more institutional?" Move from doing (verbs) to entities (nouns).

Vocabulary Learning

conferred (v.)
to grant or bestow, especially an award or honor
Example:The league conferred the MVP award on him during the ceremony.
trajectory (n.)
the path or course of something moving or developing
Example:The team's trajectory improved after the coaching change.
elite (adj.)
of the highest quality; superior
Example:He is considered part of the elite group of players in the NBA.
cohort (n.)
a group of people sharing a common characteristic or experience
Example:The cohort of champions includes legendary names such as Jordan and LeBron.
temporal (adj.)
relating to or measured in time; fleeting
Example:The temporal proximity of the announcement created a surge in fan excitement.
proximity (n.)
nearness in space or time
Example:The proximity of the games allowed fans to attend both in a single weekend.
mirrors (v.)
reflects or imitates
Example:The schedule mirrors the previous season’s format, keeping the same structure.
scheduling (n.)
the act of arranging events in time
Example:The scheduling of the playoffs was complex due to travel constraints.
league-leading (adj.)
having the best record or performance in the league
Example:He achieved a league-leading 64-18 record, the best in the competition.
accolades (n.)
praise or recognition for achievements
Example:The player received numerous accolades during the season, including Defensive Player of the Year.
consecutive (adj.)
following one after another without interruption
Example:It was the eighth consecutive season of international winners, a rare streak.