KIA NBA MVP Race: A new leader at the top as LeBron James and Joel Embiid are sidelined

#3 James Harden

Brooklyn Nets star James Harden has emerged in the NBA MVP race

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.

"Harden will NOT win the MVP, he's disqualified, but he should be the MVP favorite. Nobody has been more valuable to keep his team afloat. It's the James Harden show. He has taken his game to one more level that I didn't think he had."@RealSkipBayless pic.twitter.com/xele2VBjyp
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 29, 2021

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#2 Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid could be returning sooner than later for the Philadelphia 76ers

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

Nikola Jokic has helped the Denver Nuggets to 5th in the West

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.