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#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo
MPG - 33.7, PPG - 28.4, APG - 6.1, RPG - 11.2, FG% - 56.5%
Previous NBA MVP Power Rankings - 3rd (-)
Giannis Antetokounmpo retains his place in our power rankings for the NBA MVP award despite only playing in four of the Bucks' previous ten outings.
Milwaukee went 3-3 without the Greek in their side, and 3-1 in the other four matchups. His return to the starting five on Thursday was fairly low-key as he recorded 15 points in 25 minutes. But he was emphatic in the Bucks' loss on Sunday, putting up 28 points, 8 assists and 11 boards in just 29 minutes.
While Antetokounmpo's efficiency per 36 minutes is down when compared to the last campaign, he has improved his overall game. The 26-year-old has already grabbed a career-high 7 triple-doubles this campaign - two more than his previous best - and gets to the line more than any other player in the league.
#2 Joel Embiid
MPG - 32.2, PPG - 30.0, APG - 3.0, RPG - 11.1, FG% - 51.6%
Previous NBA MVP Power Rankings - 2nd (-)
Although Joel Embiid has been emphatic this season and is one of the best at bullying his opponent down low, the Cameroonian may miss out on the NBA MVP award after missing 18 games through injury.
It would be a tough pill to swallow for the 27-year-old, who is currently the third-highest scorer in the league and has the 4th-best +/- of any player.
He has strengthened his case for the NBA MVP award over the last week though, by averaging 37 points in each of Philadelphia's three wins and having shooting splits of 50-40-90.
Embiid has played the best basketball of his career by far this campaign, and with a win share of 7.3 from 38 games, has led the 76ers to the top of the East. His per-minute production is the highest in the NBA, while his offensive rating eclipses his previous personal best by 9 at 123.
#1 Nikola Jokic
MPG - 35.2, PPG - 26.1, APG - 8.8, RPG - 11.0, FG% - 56.7%
Previous NBA MVP Power Rankings - 1st (-)
Our NBA MVP leader Nikola Jokic faces his toughest period of the season as the Denver Nuggets' leader. With Jamal Murray now ruled out for the rest of the campaign, Jokic is going to have to do more than ever on the offensive end.
In the Nuggets' 123-116 win over the Miami Heat this week, Jokic put up his 15th triple-double of the season, proving he can carry this Denver side. Whether he will be able to do so in the playoffs rather than just in the regular season remains to be seen, but his consistent performances have helped him widen the gap on his MVP rivals.
Jokic has been unstoppable all season and has developed into one of the most complete players in the league. He is averaging career-high figures across all of the traditional metrics and leads the league in win shares with 12.5 - also a personal best. His offensive rating stands at a staggering 131, while his defensive rating has remained solid at 109.
If he can keep his performances up and guide the Nuggets into the West's 4th seed, there is little doubt Jokic will pick up the NBA MVP award.
Guess the Lakers players!
