With just a month left in the regular season, the NBA MVP race is still neck and neck. This season, we’ve witnessed unfathomable feats of seventy-point games, unbelievable triple-doubles, and more. TheDunkCentral on X posted the updated top 5 MVP ladder in this order:
1.) Nikola Jokic
2.) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
3.) Giannis Antetokounmpo
4.) Luka Doncic
5.) Jayson Tatum
Is This NBA MVP Race List Correct?
I think this NBA MVP Race is much closer than possibly any other NBA MVP race outside of the 2020s. NBA fans have been blessed to experience what might be the most skilled era of basketball yet. Let’s check out the players’ stats and their team’s current records.
NBA MVP Race: Best Players Deserve the Award
Nikola Jokic: 26 PTS, 12.3 REB, 9.2 AST; 46-20 (2nd in the Western Conference)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 31.1 PTS, 5.6 REB, 6.4 AST; 46-20 (1st in the Western Conference)
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 30.8 PTS, 11.2 REB, 6.4 AST; 43-24 (2nd in the Eastern Conference)
Luka Doncic: 34.3 PTS, 9.0 REB, 9.8 AST; 38-29 (8th in the Western Conference)
Jayson Tatum: 27 PTS, 8.3 REB, 4.9 AST; 52-14 (1st in the Eastern Conference)
Tatum has been considered one of the best players in the league, but he might not be THE best player. The MVP award belongs to the best player in the league. In most cases, the MVP award is also associated with team success. The only time I can think of when a team’s record did not matter when giving someone the MVP was when Russell Westbrook won in the 2016-2017 season. He came out on top in that NBA MVP race. Westbrook averaged 31.6 PTS, 10.7 REB, and 10.4 AST that season. The Oklahoma City Thunder finished 6th in the Western Conference that season.
Who Should Be Leading The NBA MVP Race?
I don’t think Tatum would get it, although the Celtics are by far, the best team in the NBA right now. Shai is the leader of a very young Thunder core that can be a fierce squad for the next seven to eight years. Shai’s season has been compared to the 87-88 Jordan with how he kills defenders in the mid-range and averages 2.1 steals this season.
Giannis is averaging one block and steal this season. Luka and Jokic aren’t playing much defense, but they’re so talented on offense that it’s insane to see how they’ve been hooping in the middle of this NBA MVP race.
I would rank the MVP ladder like this:
1.) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2.) Nikola Jokic
3.) Giannis Antetokounmpo
4.) Luka Doncic
5.) Jayson Tatum
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