NO JOKIN’ Nikola on course to come AROUND away with MVP
It makes sense. It’s understandable that in this funky COVID season that the MVP conversation is jumbled and confusing — with 72 games compressed into less than five months, with contact tracing and with some teams coming off the shortest offseason in NBA history, others with their longest. Yes, there are front runners. There’s one player, in particular, whom we’d peg as the favorite because of his durability, winning and triple-double prowess (hint: Batman’s nemesis).
The season is about three-quarters finished and we still can’t narrow the MVP field to fewer than a whopping 11 players. Much of that has to do with the very unpredictable nature of health and availability. We had LeBron James at No. 1 before his ankle sprain, for instance.
So here they are. Eleven possibilities for MVP, ranked in ascending order:
11. KYRIE IRVING
l NETS RECORD: 36-17 l STATS: 38 games, 27.6 ppg, 6 apg, 4.8 rpg, 51.4% shooting.
There’s going to be a candidate on the Nets. The tough part is choosing which one. Irving currently has the momentum as the healthiest of the Big 3, and his offensive production is stupendous. Durant missed too many games for consideration. Harden carried the Nets for much of the season but is shelved with a hamstring strain. But it’s tough to ignore Irving’s 15 missed games and his AWOL adventure early in the season.
10. DEVIN BOOKER
l SUNS RECORD: 37-15. l STATS: 48 games, 26 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.1 rpg, 49.4% shooting
Phoenix has the second-best record in the NBA and Booker is leaping toward superstardom. If the Suns surge to the league’s top record, he deserves consideration. But Phoenix’s well-rounded squad probably hurts Booker’s candidacy. Some would argue Chris Paul is Phoenix’s MVP.
9. LUKA DONCIC
l MAVERICKS RECORD: 29-22 l STATS: 46 games, 28.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 8.7 apg, 48.3% shooting
He’s nearly averaging a triple-double while scoring more than 28 points per game. Those are MVP numbers. But Doncic’s candidacy was hurt by the Mavericks’ poor start to the season, which has left them climbing up the standings but still only in seventh place. If Dallas makes a move into the Western Conference’s top-4, Doncic should get some votes.
8. DONOVAN MITCHELL
l JAZZ RECORD: 40-13 l STATS: 50 games, 26.3 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4.5 rpg, 43.8% shooting
Mitchell is the best player on the best team in the NBA, which would normally place him higher than 8th on the MVP list. But the Jazz is another well-rounded outfit, much like Phoenix. And Mitchell’s stats don’t stack up to the others.
7. JAMES HARDEN
l NETS RECORD: 36-17 l STATS: 42 games, 25.2 ppg, 8 rpg, 10.9 apg, 46.3% shooting.
Harden was among the frontrunners until a strained hamstring sidelined him indefinitely. If the Nets keep winning without their lead guard, it’s impossible to label him the MVP. He’s obviously not LeBron, but if the Nets tank until Harden leads them back to the top of the East upon his return … now we’re talking.
6. DAMIAN LILLARD
l BLAZERS RECORD: 31-21. l STATS: 50 games, 29 ppg, 7.7 apg, 4.2 rpg, 44.2% shooting
He has carried an underwhelming roster firmly into the playoff picture, navigating most of the season without sidekick CJ McCollum. Lillard has been doing it for so long that there’s a bit of a legacy attached to his candidacy. He’s due for recognition, but it’s tough to imagine the Blazers surging to the top of the West. The team needs to be better to produce an MVP.
5. KAWHI LEONARD
l CLIPPERS RECORD: 36-18 l STATS: 45 games, 26 ppg, 6.6 rebounds, 5 assists, 51.5% shooting
Normally it’s tough to include Leonard in a regular-season award because of his affinity for load management. But he’s played over 80% of his team’s games, more than four players on this list. So he’s got a legitimate shot, assuming the Clippers continue their ascension. Leonard’s not a stat-stuffer, but his value as a defensive player should be taken into account.
4. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
l BUCKS RECORD: 32-20 l STATS: 45 games, 28.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 6.2 apg, 56.5% shooting
The numbers remain MVP-like, but the Bucks aren’t winning like years prior and there’s some Greek Freak fatigue with this award. Only the Mount Rushmore candidates land three MVPs (except for Moses Malone) and Antetokounmpo still hasn’t advanced to the NBA Finals.
3. JOEL EMBIID
l SIXERS RECORD: 36-17 l STATS: 35 games, 29.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 52% shooting
Embiid’s injury weakened his candidacy but he’s back and the Sixers have a solid chance to finish with the best record in the East. The numbers are tremendous under Doc Rivers — career highs in points and field-goal percentage — and he needs to win and play for the remainder for a shot at MVP.
2. LEBRON JAMES
l LAKERS RECORD: 33-20 l STATS: 41 games, 25.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.9 apg, 51.3% shooting
It’s no surprise the Lakers season has derailed since LeBron’s ankle sprain. It happens wherever he goes. With LeBron, a team is a title contender. Without LeBron, it’s lucky to make the playoffs. The big question is when James is returning from his injury, and whether he’ll have enough time to prove worthy of a fifth MVP. The Lakers are fifth in the West and need a surge.
1. NIKOLA JOKIC
l NUGGETS RECORD: 34-18 l STATS: 52 games, 26.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 8.8 apg, 57% shooting
The “Joker” has played more games than anybody on this list. He’s closer to averaging a triple-double than anybody on this list. His team is riding the hottest streak in the NBA. If this continues in the final quarter of the season, Jokic should be the MVP. He’s so skilled and big that he can overcome being slower and less athletic than everybody else on this list.