USA TODAY International Edition
LeBron playing better than ever?
“LeBron James sits near top of NBA MVP conversation.”
Yawn.
Talk about a played-out story line. “LeBron James carries injuryplagued Cleveland Cavaliers to NBAbest eight-game winning streak behind career-best numbers.”
Now that’s something we can get behind.
Below are USA TODAY’s weekly NBA MVP rankings, as voted on by Sam Amick, Jeff Zillgitt, Michael Singer and AJ Neuharth-Keusch.
5. Stephen Curry, Warriors
❚ Last week: No. 5. ❚ Season stats (through Monday): 26.0 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 46.5% shooting
Curry, shooting a career-worst 37% from beyond the arc, is on pace to finish in the top 10 on the all-time single-season three-pointers made list — a list in which he already holds five spots. He also leads the league with a plus-minus of +11.7 and has the highest offensive rating (117.8) among players who average more than 30 minutes per game.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
❚ LW: No. 3. ❚ Season stats: 29.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.8 blocks, 55.2% shooting
Antetokounmpo’s week was overshadowed by his sideline shouting match with assistant coach Sean Sweeney, which was captured on TV and quickly became a hot topic in the hoops world. Antetokounmpo, though, says the incident was “something common.”
3. Kyrie Irving, Celtics
❚ LW: No. 4. ❚ Season stats: 22.8 points, 5.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 47.6% shooting
The Celtics have lost two of their last four games but still own the best record in the NBA at 18-4 — a testament to Irving, Al Horford, coach Brad Stevens and the rest of this group that has exceeded even the loftiest of expectations. In the last six games, Irving ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring (28.8 points per game) and has shot 58.9% from the field and 46.7% from three.
2. LeBron James, Cavaliers
❚ LW: No. 2. ❚ Season stats: 28.6 points, 8.5 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 57.8% shooting
James, a month away from his 33rd birthday, is playing some of the best basketball of his career. He’s posting career highs in shooting, both from the field (57.8%) and beyond the arc (42.3%), and his true-shooting percentage (65.7%) leads all players who attempt at least 10 shots per game. James also leads the NBA in clutch scoring, averaging 5.5 points (on 62.2% shooting) when the score is within five points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. The only reason he’s not No. 1 on our list right now is because of ...
1. James Harden, Rockets
❚ LW: No. 1. ❚ Season stats: 31.7 points, 9.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 45.6% shooting
In five games since Chris Paul’s return, Harden is averaging a league-best 34.4 points (on 49.5% shooting), 5.2 three-pointers made (on 46.4% shooting), 8.2 assists and 5.4 rebounds and is +14.6. The Rockets are 5-0 during that span and have won 16 of their first 20 games, including nine of their last 10. Still worried about how the two future Hall of Fame guards will fit together?