Now that the season is more than halfway through, it’s time to do another check-in on the MVP race. After a terrific start to the season, it seemed like Warriors star Stephen Curry might be a lock for his third trophy if he maintained his production — unfortunately, he’s been in one of the worst slumps of his career the past couple of months.
Through his first 20 games of the season, running through the end of November, Curry was averaging 27.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.9 SPG on .452/.412/.943 shooting. From the start of December until now, a span of 21 games, those numbers have fallen to 25.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, and 1.1 SPG on .395/.359/.900 shooting. Curry recently had a stretch of nine straight games of shooting below 50% from the field, unheard of for the greatest shooter ever.
After starting the season 24-5, the Warriors have gone 8-8 over their last 16 games, so the team has cooled off recently as well. However, at 32-13, Golden State still holds the second-best record in the league, only trailing the 35-9 Suns. There’s still time for Curry to turn things around, but other players have certainly performed better lately.
The NBA’s leading scorer, Kevin Durant, looked like a top contender for the award prior to suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee on January 16, which is expected to sideline him for four-to-six weeks. Through 36 games, he’s averaged 29.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 5.8 APG on .520/.372/.894 shooting. The injury and missed games could ruin his MVP chances, but he’s been excellent for the Nets, who hold a 29-16 record in the East.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP, has been carrying his team in the absence of several injured players, including the teams second- and third-leading scorers from last season, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Although Denver is just 23-21 (1-4 without Jokic), he has been completely dominant, averaging 25.9 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 7.4 APG, and 1.4 SPG on .569/.367/.789 shooting. Jokic leads the league in several advanced stats, including win shares, box plus/minus, and value over replacement player, per Basketball-Reference.
Over the past five-plus weeks, Sixers center Joel Embiid has arguably been the best player in the league, putting up 33.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.5 BPG on .550/.380/.837 shooting in just 32.3 MPG (15 games) — more than a point per minute, and nearly 12 free throw attempts per game. His season averages are quite impressive too, but he’s played just 33 games to this point, which is always a concern with the injury-plagued big man. There’s no denying his impact when active, as Philadelphia holds a 23-11 record when he plays, and is just 3-8 in games he’s missed.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is another top contender, stuffing the staff sheet with 28.6 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.5 BPG while playing strong defense for the defending champion Bucks, who hold a 29-19 record.
Lakers superstar LeBron James continues to impress in season 19 at 37 years of age, putting up stellar numbers yet again, but Los Angeles has struggled and sit at 23-23 through 46 games. Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan is having an outstanding season and should at least be in the conversation — Chicago is 28-16, second-best in the East.
Suns guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker deserve recognition as the two best players on the league’s best team, although they figure to take votes away from each other and don’t have the same type of numbers as other candidates. Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is having fantastic third season and could garner some votes. Memphis is 32-16 after defeating Denver Friday night.
We want to know what you think. Who’s been the MVP so far? Who do you think will end up winning the award? Are there any dark-horse candidates you like? What would your five-man ballot look like at this point?
Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
I think Jokic repeats unless Gino breaks it open in the 2nd half. He is unsung enough that people will view back to back as an underdog accomplishment.
Watch Sixers more
I’m good actually lol
MVP definition
The best player in the best team unless ……
…there’s a better player another team.
There is no MVP race… Jokic as always is light years ahead of the field!
1/ Jokic
2/ Giannis
3/ Embiid
4/ LBJ
5/ KD
Jokic is a joke on defense. That’s the problem with this award
Jokic used to be bad on defense, he’s adapted his game and now can more than hold his own on that end.
You haven’t watched him if you still believe that. He’s doing his best and anchoring one of the better team defenses in the league.
I’d say Jokic would be my MVP vote if the season ended today
1. Jokic
2. Giannas
3. Embiid
4. LeBron
5. Curry
6. KD
7. DeRozan
Wouldn’t be surprised if Embiid steals it.
He’s been phenomenal. Overcome covid, overcome injuries, overcome the Ben Simmons drama which continues to be brought up every second day.
Jokic team is 23-21 whereas Embiid is 26-19 both guys missing their second best player. Jokic gets more love from the fans cause of his ridiculous star lines but plays zero defence. Embiid puts up the stats and plays elite defence too.
lmao how can u not have Ja Morant. his team is better than all of them except Curry’s
The Grizzlies only lost twice in Ja’s absence. They were just as good without him.
The Grizzlies did great without Ja. There whole thing is a team effort. Ja has been amazing would have him in 8th but the team did well without him …
If y’all don’t go look at Trae Young stats y’all are sleeping the man is the closest thing to Allen Iverson we have he gives you 28.8 ppg and 9.6 assist ppg.
Yeah and he’s doing it on a team that’s 20-25. I know the Hawks made a deep run last year, but if putting up big numbers on a bad team meant anything then maybe Andre Drummond would have won an MVP.
He’s also arguably the worst defensive player in the NBA.
Iverson played defence
I think Ja Morant should get MVP. i dont get it. He’s been dominating games and has Memphis at 32-16 for third best record in the West and averaging 25/6/7 on 49/36/77. again small market teams never get any love. Joker,Giannis,Embiid should be right after him since they have a bit less Wins
They were good without him. Only lost twice during that stretch.
memphis goes nowhere without Morant.
Untrue
Grizzlies without Ja is 11-2
It could happen. Not even halfway through. If he keeps it up he’ll get the attention he deserves esp if we get some more defensive highlights.
The MVP award really should be renamed to the Offensive Player of the Year award. It makes more sense since there’s already a DPOY award, and to be honest it’s how they currently judge the MVP. If defense was considered in the MVP race that would put Embiid ahead of Jokic, but if you’re just going on offense then Jokic is in the lead right now.
Or have offensive player, defensive player and MVP awards like football
There’s jojo and everyone else.
Embiid is he’s healthy
Embiid separates with his defense
Ranked by pts diff on/off followed by team record without player in the lineup.
1. Jokic +21.9 (1-4)
2. Curry +15.1 (1-3)
3. DeRozan +12.4 (1-2)
4. Giannis +11.8 (4-5)
5. Embiid +10.1 (3-8)
The next closest from the list above is CP3 (+3.9). Interestingly, Ja is -2.6 and his team is 11-2 without him! Clearly Jokic is ahead and clearly Giannis and Embiid missing so many games has affected the seeds in the East. Probably cost the Bucks 2 wins and the 76ers 5 wins.
Jokic is on track to have the highest single season Player Efficiency Rating (33) of any player ever. Better than any of Jordan, Lebron, Wilt’s best years. He also is on a string of 4 games in a row with triple doubles (averaging 29/13/12) . Giannis is the only one with a chance to take the MVP crown from him. It should be an interesting second half the season.
Sad part is the owner of the Nuggets won’t put his team on TV so no one is Denver gets to see this guy. Nuggets don’t even register with me anymore. It’s weird to think we have an MVP here that no one even watches.
You’re missing out if you don’t watch.
I’m not from the States so don’t have a favourite team in terms of location – I just enjoy watching the game being played well and so love to watch Jokic.
Can’t wait until Jokic is a Maverick.
I have been thinking the same thing.. the 2 best all around players of the Era and 2 best European players ever, it’ll be fun two watch.
The media is going to regret not awarding LeBron with more MVPs. Guys like Jokic will get consideration for the award every year despite leading a .500 team. At this rate he’ll end up with 5 trophies. How many ridiculous seasons did LBJ have and people found every reason not to give it to him? The man has made 10 finals while Jokic gets swept out of the 2nd round in his MVP season and will likely have another early exit this year.
What on earth has the playoffs got to do with the MVP race, dude?
Come on, that is just the most pathetic argument like ever!!!
You award the MVP before knowing what a team is gonna do in the playoff!
Hence why they have the Finals MVP, for the winning team, right?
BTW LBJ never ever played a season like Jokic’s this year or last year, as a matter of fact no NBA player in the last 75 years has played as good as Jokic this year, highest PER ever!!!
The award is for the most valuable player, not the highest PER. The same logic was applied to Westbrook’s and Harden’s MVP seasons which required a lot of stat padding and record breaking numbers. I think we all know what those players are about, and it ain’t always winning. Sure it’s a regular season award and Jokic may deserve it this year if Denver’s record improves, but you can’t honestly say LeBron deserved the MVP in just 4 of his 17 seasons. Hindsight is 20/20 but it’s true nonetheless.
I would have given LBJ one more, the year D-Rose won it, should have been LBJ, you right there!
Harden & Russ are winners, they did record breaking numbers trying to will bad teams to win… the same that Jokic is doing this year, to a level that no player in history has played as good as him, to me that is a winner!
Winning rings is less about talent than just been at the right place at the right time, most legends never won one… doesn’t matter to me!
BTW I don’t believe in stat padding, stat counting & all that trash people talks, if a guy fills the stat sheet is because he is a great player trying to will a team to win!
Curry will come out of the slump and win the MVP! It’s his and W’s season !
… and Embiid is selfish. Most people don’t like that. It is what differentiates him from the others on the list. I don’t see how he wins if the stat lines stay close and the 76ers don’t look dominant in the East.
Vorp, BPM, WS says Joker. Giannis #2, Embiid #3, LBj #4, Durant #5, Curry #6.
Going with Gianis on this. Jokic is a one way player.