(Photo Received From Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) When looking at the top talent around the league, about five to seven players all have an excellent case for the Most Valuable Player award. Whether the voters value advanced statistics, the team record or recent play could decide who wins the award. With the all-star breaking sneaking upon us, here are my top five MVP frontrunners.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Kevin Durant – Brooklyn Nets
Statistics – 29.3 Points, 5.8 Assists, 7.4 Rebounds, 0.8 Steals, 0.9 Blocks.
Durant has a case to be the best player in the NBA and was the front runner for the MVP award until he sprained his knee on January 15th. Projected to miss four to six weeks, it is hard to keep him in contention with missing a month of games, while the other players mentioned haven’t missed more than five games this year.
This injury shouldn’t take away from how great of a player Durant has been in Brooklyn. Since recovering from his Achilles injury back in 2019, Durant has proven to be the best scorer in the NBA. Standing at 6’11, he can score from anywhere on the court with ease, along with being incredibly efficient. Although not in the MVP conversation anymore, no one wants to play him when the playoffs roll around, especially if he’s tipping off next to James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
Chris Paul – Phoenix Suns
Statistics – 14.8 Points, 10.3 Assists, 4.6 Rebounds, 1.9 Steals, 0.3 Blocks.
The most impactful player on the best team in the league needs to get some MVP hype, even if he’s averaging under 15 points a game. Chris Paul’s impact on the court goes way beyond the statistics, as his playmaking and overall basketball IQ make him one of the most intelligent players in the NBA. Paul is shooting a career-high 62.5% from within the three-point line, mainly dominating the game in the mid-range and pick and roll situations.
Some people can argue that Devin Booker is the best player on the Suns, averaging 25.1 points on a 50.7% effective field goal percentage. When watching Phoenix, it is clear that Chris Paul is the bonafide leader on both ends of the floor, with Booker being there to get buckets. Chris Paul is the best pick and roll facilitator in the league, along with playing in every single game of the season so far is why he needs to be in the MVP conversation.
5. Demar Derozan – Chicago Bulls
Statistics – 26.5 Points, 4.9 Assists, 5.0 Rebounds, 0.8 Steals, 0.3 Blocks.
All season long, the Chicago Bulls have been in contention for the one seed out East, even with everyone doubting their offseason. There would be no better story for Derozan than being called the “worst off-season signing” by Bleacher Report to winning MVP. Being an all-star starter (even though he isn’t a guard), he’s finally getting recognition being in a bigger market.
Even in a three-point driven league, Demar finds success offensively with his playmaking and mid-range abilities. He’s averaging the second-highest PPG in his career while shooting 50% from the field and 86% from the free-throw line. Out of all the qualities, I’ve been most impressed by his leadership ability. Most teams built through free agency take one to two seasons to build enough chemistry, but the Bulls started the season 12-5.
4. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
Statistics – 25.7 Points, 6.3 Assists, 5.5 Rebounds, 1.5 Steals, 0.4 Blocks.
Curry was leading the MVP race for a long time but shot himself out of it with his recent cold streak. Luckily for him, the Warriors currently sit at the two seed in the West, and he’s still the best shooter in NBA history. He’s having a down season from three, shooting a career-low (other than 2019-2020, where he played a total of five games) 37.6% on 12.6 attempts.
Even with his shooting being down, no one can take away the legacy he has created. His movement off the ball, along with the attention he gets from defenses, might make him the most demanding player to guard in NBA history. He makes the Warriors the most exciting team to watch, with his fast-pace movement along with Golden State playing great team basketball.
3. Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
Statistics – 29.1 Points, 4.4 Assists, 10.8 Rebounds, 0.9 Steals, 1.4 Blocks.
With all the drama surrounding former number one overall pick Ben Simmons, many people didn’t believe Embiid could carry the 76ers to a top 6 seed, which is just what he has done. The Sixers are currently 11 games over .500, with Embiid playing the greatest basketball he’s ever played. Unlike Curry, Embiid’s recent play is what has secured him a top-three spot in the MVP race this year with recent stat lines like;
12/20 – 41 Points, Ten Rebounds, Four Blocks.
1/19 – 50 Points, 12 Rebounds, Three Blocks.
1/25 – 42 Points, 14 Rebounds, Four Blocks.
Embiid has proven to be one of the best three-level scorers in today’s game, with his mid-range ability being the best amongst centers. As a center, he’s shooting 37% from three on 3.4 attempts, along with 81% from the charity stripe on 11.1 attempts a night. His post IQ is incredible, and his ability to draw fouls is unmatched right now. With Tobias Harris struggling to put the ball in the basket recently, Embiid’s dominance is what has carried the 76ers to a top-three seed in the East.
2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets
Statistics – 26.0 Points, 7.8 Assists, 13.7 Rebounds, 1.4 Steals, 0.8 Blocks.
In a Western Conference that has dominated the NBA for years, the Denver Nuggets, without their second and third best players in Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. (both out with injuries), currently sit seven games above .500. If you look at advanced stats, Jokic takes over the NBA on both sides of the court.
Denver has a +8.0 Net Rating with Jokic on the floor, compared to a -3.0 when Jokic is off the floor.
Jokic has always been known for his great offensive play, being the best passing big man in NBA history, but this season isn’t getting enough credit for his play on the other end. Via PBPStats, when Jokic is on the court, the Nuggets have a 105.8 defensive rating, the fourth-best in the NBA. When Jokic is off the court, Denver has a 116.7 defensive rating, considered the worst in NBA history.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaulkee Bucks
Statistics – 28.8 Points, 5.8 Assists, 11.2 Rebounds, 1.0 Steals, 1.4 Blocks.
Coming off the championship run, Giannis has proven himself the best player in the NBA due to his prolific dominance on both ends of the court. He has become more comfortable with his ball-handling and more confident in his mid-range and three-point jump shot. He’s unguardable driving to the basket and can control the game’s pacing even at the Power Forward position.
Starting the season, many people doubted if the Bucks were even championship contenders as they started off the season 6-8. People tend to forget that they didn’t have Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez for most of those games. When fully healthy, Giannis has become even better offensively, shown in his statistics over January.
In 13 games played, Giannis has averaged 33.1 minutes per game. He put up 31.5 points, 6.0 assists, 10.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks in that time.
With Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and Khris Middleton providing spacing, Giannis can focus on dominating the paint. His playmaking this season has been fantastic, primarily when drawing double-teams in the post and kicking it out to an open shooter. Defensively he doesn’t have the overall impact players like Draymond Green or Rudy Gobert have, but he is the best help-defender in the NBA. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses with his height and lateral quickness is unlike anything we have seen since the Bill Russell / Wilt Chamberlain days.
All players mentioned have unique cases for the MVP award, which is why I think the award is up for grabs this year. The favorite to win it has changed multiple times already, as any of the guys named could run away with it with great post-all-star gameplay. Knowing that the voters love to include team record and all-around statistics, I believe Giannis should grab his third MVP of his career, but if Denver can sneak into a top-three seed, don’t count out Nikola Jokic.
