The NBA season is starting to heat up as teams are jockeying for position in the playoffs and play-in. In the same breath, some of the leagues best players are battling for the league's 'Most Valuable Player' award. Here is the Hoops Views MVP Ladder.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
31.2 Pts - 5.5 Rebs - 6.6 Ast - 54.8 FG% - 38.0 3FG% - 88.3 FT% - 2.1 Stls - 30.7 PER
SGA's rise to stardom from his rookie season to now needs to be studied. With each season that passes he improves. You know it's crazy when every season it's up for debate whether he should win Most Improved. For this season though forget about a Most Improved, SGA is the current front runner for MVP.
SGA has the Oklahoma City Thunder sitting at the two spot in the West. With an average age just over 23 years, the OKC Thunder are one of the youngest teams in the league. Despite this youth and lack of experience they sit at second spot out west, in large part due to SGA. His efficiency, his ability to put the team on his back in the clutch, and him leading the league in 30-point games has him sitting at the top spot.
So far the 25-year-old is the Hoops Views frontrunner for MVP. The MVP seems to be the next level of progression for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
2. Luka Doncic
34.5 Pts - 8.9 Rebs - 9.7 Ast - 49.6 FG% - 37.9 3FG% - 78.1 FT% - 1.5 Stls - 28.4 PER
Already in his sixth season, everyone is accustomed to the insane stat lines that Luka has produced up until now. This season has a different vibe to it for him. After a disappointing season for himself and the Dallas Mavericks last season (no playoffs), Luka Doncic has returned this season with a vengeance. The Dallas Mavericks are the eighth seed in the west. The eighth seed isn't something to get excited about, yes, but the season hasn't been ideal for the Mavericks.
Luka is averaging damn near a triple double. Luka reached the peak of his powers this season against the Atlanta Hawks (who originally drafted him), dropping 73 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in a win. That scoring outburst became the fourth highest in NBA history. The only players to have scored more than Luka are Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant. Elite company.
Luka's MVP campaign is largely fueled by what he has had to do to keep his team in the playoff hunt. The Mavericks have had to deal with injuries to Kyrie Irving for most of the season, leaving much of the scoring and playmaking responsibilities to Luka. With some new of acquisitions and Irving returning to the lineup Luka and Mavs are gearing up for a late season surge. Up until this point Luka has embodied the phrase of 'most valuable player.' Will it be enough to walk away with the award?
3. Nikola Jokic
25.9 Pts - 12.2 Rebs - 9.2 Ast - 58 FG% - 34 3FG% - 82 FT% - 1.2 Stls - 31.4 PER
At this point the MVP race and Nikola Jokic are almost synonymous. Jokic is the best center in the league and he continuously reminds us with every season that passes. After winning a championship last year, there are no signs of a championship hangover for Jokic or the Denver Nuggets.
Averaging damn near a triple double (again), Jokic and the Nuggets are sitting at the third spot. Don't let the standings fool you though, the Denver Nuggets are still arguably the best team in the league. Racking up triple double after triple-double (19 of them), it's almost as if Jokic is doubling down on the fact that he can impact every facet of the game. Thing is we already know this. We have already watched him do it before. Already a two-time MVP, the politics and voters fatigue will most likely mean he won't add a third to his trophy cabinet. Look past the voters fatigue and politics and some might even say he is this season's MVP.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
30.8 Pts - 11.3 Rebs - 6.3 Ast - 61.9 FG% - 30 3FG% - 66 FT% - 1.3 Stls - 1 Blk - 30PER
Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing more or less of the same that we all know him for. High intensity on both ends of the floor, and leaving it all on the floor night in and night out. The Milwaukee Bucks are the third seed out east and despite this position they are still considered to be struggling. With the acquisition of Damian Lillard, there has been an adjustment period for the Bucks and Giannis.
Giannis just like Jokic, is already a two time MVP and an NBA champion. So you know voters fatigue comes into play. Regardless, Giannis hasn't been the best player so far this season. He's averaging a double-double and making an impact on both ends of the ball like he always has. Everyone is used to it by this point and the struggles and turnover that the Bucks are facing doesn't help his case for winning the award.
His counting stats jump out at you. When you watch him play he immediately grabs your attention. Yet, something still feels like it's missing from Giannis this season.
5. Jayson Tatum
27.2 Pts - 8.5 Rebs - 4.8 Ast - 47.6 FG% - 36.4 3FG% - 82.6 FT% - 1 Stl - 22.4 PER
If Hoops Views went off the notion of the best player on the best team being the MVP, then Jayson Tatum would be at the very top of this list. He is quite literally the best player on the number one team in the league. Sadly, that's what places him here at the fourth rung of the ladder.
Tatum is a bucket and a bonafide superstar that many franchises would love to build around. The only thing is he isn't carrying the same load as the three players ahead of him. The Boston Celtics are sitting comfy with a 48-12 record. With the likes of Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis on his squad, it's no surprise that the Celtics are this good. Through all of this, Tatum is leading the way.
There has been a discourse surrounding Tatum and the lack of attention he gets for the MVP (fueled by Draymond Green). Tatum has been fortunate enough to experience success early in his career, therefore the expectations are high. The best remedy for this is winning a championship. Something tells me Tatum would rather take the Larry O'Brien home and have the MVP awards follow after.