We’re nearing the halfway mark of the 2018/19 NBA regular season, and a clear favorite has emerged in this season’s MVP race.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to a 24-10 record (second-best in the NBA) with a +8.4 net rating (first). He’s averaging 26.5 PPG on an eye-popping .581 FG% and has posted career highs in RPG (12.8) and APG (5.9) while also chipping in excellent defensive numbers (1.3 SPG, 1.5 BPG).
By maximizing their roster around Antetokounmpo and bringing in a coach (Mike Budenholzer) who can get the most out of those players, the Bucks have paved the way for their 24-year-old star to take his game to the next level, and he looks like the frontrunner to snatch the 2018/19 NBA MVP award at this point.
We still have three and a half months to play though, and several other viable MVP candidates are looking to challenge Giannis. One is the reigning MVP, James Harden, whose league-leading 32.7 PPG have been buoyed by an eight-game run in which he has averaged a staggering 40.5 PPG. After a big Rockets win over the Celtics on Thursday night, Harden said there should be no doubt that he’s a candidate to win another MVP award, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com details.
“I mean, I receive a lot of hate, but it won’t stop me from going out there and killing every single night, being that dog that I am,” Harden said. “You can name a few other people that should be in the [MVP] conversation. But realistically? It’s coming back.”
Elsewhere in the West, the conference-leading Nuggets have a candidate of their own in Nikola Jokic, according to Ben Alamar of The Athletic, who explains why it’s not outlandish to consider the young center a realistic contender for the award. Jokic, who has always been an excellent offensive player, has made strides on defense and helped Denver post a 105.4 defensive rating (seventh) so far.
Warriors stars Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have been as good as ever this season, though they’ll likely split votes and will face an uphill battle if Golden State doesn’t win at least 55-60 games. The Thunder have a pair of stars too, and despite Russell Westbrook averaging a triple-double again, it’s probably Paul George who deserves more MVP consideration at this point — George is averaging career bests in PPG (26.3) and RPG (8.4) while playing solid perimeter defense.
LeBron James had been putting together a strong case for the Lakers before being sidelined by a strained groin this week. That injury could actually work in his favor if he doesn’t miss much time and L.A. struggles to keep winning in his absence. Kawhi Leonard deserves a long look for the NBA-best Raptors, but he has already missed nine games and Toronto has done just fine (7-2) without him.
Joel Embiid has been the best player on a Sixers team stacked with talent, and the same is true of Kyrie Irving and the Celtics. Anthony Davis is also having another monster year, though he’ll need the 15-20 Pelicans to go on a prolonged hot streak to receive serious MVP consideration.
In today’s poll, we’re asking which player should be considered the most serious threat to Antetokounmpo in this season’s MVP race. Place your vote below, then head to the comment section to make your case for your pick — or to explain why Giannis shouldn’t necessarily be the considered the odds-on favorite.
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I know this comment will get a lot of hate but LeBron James is better than Giannis in two of those three categories. The only category Giannis is better is rebounds 12.8 as opposed to 8.3. As far as assess LeBron is better with nearly 8 assists per game and points per game is more than half a point per game better. Let the hate begin LOL.
Giannis is also a much better defender
Right now AD is as usual the best player of the league doing the most unbelievable season a player has had in decades… Then Giannis too is having an absolute historical season… Then Embiid too is totally dominating… KD is playing great too… & Harden as well… with LBJ thereabouts also.
#1 AD
#2 Giannis
#3 Embiid
That is how it is so far this year, very exciting race as there are a bunch of guys who are totally dominating
AD won’t get a single MVP vote playing on a sub .500 team
Harden is the MVP and Embiid is better than Giannis.
Why does everybody not take Joker seriously (insert Dark Night joke somewhere)? Hes averaging nearly a triple double while leading the Nuggets to a top seed missing key starters for extended periods.
I’m not sure Giannis is even the best player on the Bucks.
One good thing about him is that he doesn’t miss many games and has not in his career. But I come back to seeing the Bucks do splendidly without him in 1 of the 2 games he did miss. Four days later when Middleton was out, they needed Giannis fanhood from the refs to stay ahead of CLE. Once GA gets his elbows to the face of the defender it’s over & all the defender can do is get hurt or give away the and1.
GA has not yet won a playoff series, though his numbers the last 2 times out show he’s up to the task: 25p, 10r, 5a in 13g.
I see MIL & Giannis has outplayed DET & Blake in two meetings so far. That should be a great playoff matchup if it happens. Ballots will be in by then.
Giannis is top 5 in the NBA smh you’re crazy if you really think Khris Middleton is their best player.
No, but the rest of the team stood & watched him. It was like watching the Cavs with James. But Giannis doesn’t have the instincts James has, for the Bucks to get away with it.
Giannis is better than Middleton, and is more of a fast-strike tank than James is, but the Bucks were better with Middleton, is my observation.
While it’s good to see a guy who doesn’t dominate the basketball get his due, GA shouldn’t be any kind of “clear favorite” for the MVP award at this point. If the season ended today, I would choose PG13, with Jokic runner up, and have Harden, LBJ, Davis, GA and KI (in no particular order) as the next 5. I would have a hard time putting anyone in the East in the top 3 just yet. The schedules never even up, but at this point in the season (at least this year) they’re very skewed.
Mvp always has to do with top 5 player on a great team. Lebron is our due to injury maybe and that the lakers are mediocre. Ad out cause even with a talented core can’t win games right now. Giannis is runaway mvp right now but that could change