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With injuries to both LeBron James and Joel Embiid, our most recent power rankings for the NBA MVP race represent an ever-changing list of favorites for the award.
Our updated rankings come after a fortnight of enthralling action. Since the All-Star break, both the Bucks and Nets have gone 7-2. Both Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden have emerged as potential rivals to previous favorites in the NBA MVP race.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic continues to lead the Denver Nuggets with wins in seven out of ten games. This has propelled him up to favorite among the bookmakers currently.
2020-21 KIA NBA MVP Race - Updated March Power Rankings
After the All-Star break, it was LeBron James who led the way in our NBA MVP race power rankings. Admittedly, a lot has changed since then and the door has been blown wide open to compete for the title.
Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic have continued their scoring sprees, though have not quite made the cut. Instead, it has been the story of the league's bigs dominating proceedings.
Let's take a look at how James and Embiid's ongoing injury woes have affected our top-5 candidates in the NBA MVP race.
#5 Giannis Antetokounmpo
MP - 34.0, PPG - 28.3, AST - 6.4, RPG - 11.5 FG% - 55.8%.
Previous MVP Power Ranking - 5th (-)
Giannis Antetokounmpo maintained his position in the NBA MVP race this week after a stunning run of performances that led the Bucks to an 8-game winning streak.
During that time, Giannis averaged exceedingly close to a triple-double, with 26.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 9.4 assists and had the second-highest +/- with 16.3 of any player in the league.
Having won the award for the last two seasons, Giannis could make a late surge in the NBA MVP race for an historic three-peat. His Bucks are guaranteed to be in with a chance of topping the East and look more consistent than they did in the first half of the season (7-2 since the All-Star break).
While Antetokounmpo's average points and rebounds have fallen, his overall game has improved. He has already put up a career-high number of triple-doubles with 7 this season and has an offensive rating of 120, only 1 behind his personal best - which came in his first NBA MVP season.
#4 LeBron James
MP - 33.9, PPG - 25.4, AST - 7.8, RPG - 7.9 FG% - 51.3%.
Previous MVP Power Ranking - 1st (↓3)
LeBron James' hopes of a 5th MVP award could be in tatters after the veteran suffered a high ankle sprain on the 20th of March. The best-case scenario for the 36-year old is a return on the 17th of April according to the latest updates. This means that he will be out for 3-5 more weeks.
Prior to his injury, LeBron was carrying the Lakers and had them firmly situated in the West's top-3. It also meant he led the NBA MVP race, considering he was averaging a staggering amount of minutes and had the team on his back with Anthony Davis sidelined.
Without the 4-time NBA MVP, the Lakers are going to struggle and will have to muster together must wins against the league's worst, such as victories this week over the Cavs and Magic.
Also Read: What is LeBron James’s current contract?
#3 James Harden
MP - 38.1, PPG - 25.8, AST - 11.2, RPG - 8.1 FG% - 46.4%.
Previous MVP Power Ranking - N/A
Questioned by reporters this week on his chances at earning another MVP trophy, James Harden responded by stating he was indeed the league's best player.
Harden is having yet another formidable season in his 12th year. Since he is making 4.7 fewer field-goal attempts per game, Harden's scoring numbers have fallen. This is due to two circumstances: he is on a better team and is dedicating himself to improving his all-round performance.
"The Beard" is currently tying his career-high 11.2 assists, which he consequently leads the league in, and is putting up a personal best of 8.1 boards per matchup (8.9 in Brooklyn).
With Irving and KD both sidelined this week, Harden led the Nets to two gritty wins against Portland and Detroit. Harden drained 44 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Detroit in the last game.
#2 Joel Embiid
MP - 32.6, PPG - 29.9, AST - 3.3, RPG - 11.5 FG% - 52.5%.
Previous MVP Power Ranking - 3rd (↑1)
Philadelphia 76ers fans and the media alike have been extremely impressed with the way Doc Rivers' side have played without NBA MVP hopeful Joel Embiid. The Sixers are 6-2 in his absence and boast the league's best defense at the time.
Looking at the deadline for his return, there was good news for the Sixers, with Embiid now completing on-court activities and ramping up his conditioning.
As of now, there is no fixed return date for the Cameroonian. However, the effect he has had on the Philadelphia 76ers this season and will continue to have when back, keeps him in our power ranking's top two candidates.
Embiid is putting up career-high numbers in points, steals and field-goal percentage. In the ten games prior to his injury, no starter in the league had a higher +/- with 10.3, while the center also sat inside the top-5 players for points and rebounds.
#1 Nikola Jokic
MP - 35.7, PPG - 26.9, AST - 8.5, RPG - 11.1 FG% - 57.1%.
Previous MVP Power Ranking - 2nd (↑1)
Nikola Jokic is our new favorite for the NBA MVP. The Serbian has benefited from Embiid and James' injuries, and has been dominant for six games since James was sidelined.
In that time, Jokic has averaged 27.3 points off 60.9% shooting. He is worthy of winning the award, akin to Harden, because of the improvement he has made to his overall game.
Jokic is the closest player on this list averaging close to a triple-double every night, already having put up 12 this year - one less than his tally for the whole of last season.
The biggest stumbling block for the 26-year old is the Nuggets' weaker record. Although the award shouldn't be based on a team's win column, it certainly comes into consideration.
That said, Jokic has had to carry Denver at times this season and is the main reason they sit just 3.5 games behind the Suns in second seed.
