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Last week changed the landscape of the bottom half of the Kia NBA MVP race. Top-tier candidates Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant should be in the running for the award until the end of the season. Meanwhile, other players will try to make a mark in the race.
Paul George has slipped out of our top five in the NBA MVP Power rankings, because the LA Clippers aren't winning games (11-9 overall, but 2-6 in their past six games). With Kawhi Leonard sidelined after ACL surgery, George is trying his best to carry the team, but the MVP award has never gone to a player from a losing team regardless of his personal numbers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (13-8), on a seven-game winning streak, are looking like the reigning champions again. He has forced his way into the early MVP race, and although at this point he is unlikely to win the third one of his career, the exploits of the "Greek Freak" cannot be overlooked.
No. 5: Nikola Jokic
Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 4th (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 0; Games lost - 4
Overall: Games played - 19; Games won - 9; Games lost - 10
Last Week: PPG - 0, APG - 0, RPG - 0
Overall: PPG - 26.4, APG - 6.4, RPG - 13.6
Last Week: N/A
Overall: FG% - 59.3%, 3P% - 41%, BPG - 0.9.
Nikola Jokic dropped in the power rankings because he hasn't played a single game this week, missing four in a row with a knee injury. And the Denver Nuggets (9-10) have lost six games in a row. Worse, the Nuggets likely have lost Michael Porter Jr. (back) for the entire season along with Jamal Murray, who tore an ACL in April, so Denver's chances of becoming playoff contenders seem remote.
"The Joker," last season's MVP, is still leading the NBA in practically every advanced statistic. He is first in win shares and offensive win shares, player efficiency rating and all three box plus/minus categories.
Similar to Paul George, the MVP award has never gone to a losing team, so Jokic may disappear from the MVP power rankings next week.
No. 4: Jimmy Butler
Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 3rd (↓2)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 20; Games won - 13; Games lost - 7
Last Week: PPG - 16.3, APG - 5.0, RPG - 7.0
Overall: PPG - 23.6, APG - 5.3, RPG - 5.8
Last Week: FG% - 40%, SPG - 2.3
Overall: FG% - 51.9%, SPG - 2.1
Jimmy Butler's stock is falling again, and if the Miami Heat don't turn things around, he might plummet in the MVP race. He was once a favorite for the award early in the season. After averaging nearly 31 points per game last week, he is averaging 16.3 points per game in the past week (three games) and has struggled from beyond the arc, missing all 11 of his shots over the past five games.
He has continued his brilliance in stealing, though, averaging 2.3 a game. However, the Miami Heat have lost two of their past four games, including a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jimmy Butler has fallen from third to fourth in the MVP power rankings.
No. 3: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - N/A
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 21; Games won - 13; Games lost - 8
Last Week: PPG - 27.7, APG - 5.0, RPG - 11.0
Overall: PPG - 27.0, APG - 5.9, RPG - 11.8
Last Week: FG% - 71%, 3P% - 28%, BPG - 1.3
Overall: FG% - 52.6%, 3P% - 27%, BPG - 1.8.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is back in the hunt for the third MVP award of his career. He has been playing at an elite level since the season began, but now with his co-stars finally healthy, the Milwaukee Bucks have started to win. They have climbed to fourth in the Eastern Conference.
The reigning Finals MVP has also averaged nearly two blocks per game during the win streak. Moreover, he has shot at an absurd 71% from the field this past week.
No. 2: Kevin Durant
Previous week’s NBA MVP Power Ranking - 2nd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 17; Games won - 11; Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 29.0, APG - 8.0, RPG - 6.3
Overall: PPG - 28.6, APG - 5.4, RPG - 7.6
Last Week: FG% - 46.0%, FT% - 88.9%, SPG - 2.0
Overall: FG% - 54.8%, FT% - 85.4%, SPG - 0.7
Kevin Durant has stayed second in most MVP power rankings over the past few weeks. He is performing at an elite level and carrying the Brooklyn Nets (14-6) nightly but is still slightly behind Stephen Curry's performances. The Nets lost their showdown against the Phoenix Suns, and his 3-point shooting has suddenly fallen to 33% this week from 50% the week before.
The Nets sit atop the Eastern Conference but have fallen short against most .500 or better teams. They have had the luxury of playing an easy schedule, and even coach Steve Nash has acknowledged the Nets aren't in the same category as some other title contenders.
No. 1: Stephen Curry
Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 1st (-)
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 4; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 20; Games won - 18; Games lost - 2
Last Week: PPG - 25.5, APG - 8.0, RPG - 4.5
Overall: PPG - 28.6, APG - 6.8, RPG - 5.8
Last Week: FT% - 85.7%, SPG - 2.3, 3P% - 44.4%
Overall: FT% - 94.2%, SPG - 1.8, 3P% - 42.3%.
Stephen Curry continues to put on a show, and there is little to no argument against his MVP case. He is showing up in clutch moments and stealing victories against .500 teams while dropping 3s at an absurd rate. He broke his own NBA record for the least number of games required to touch 100 3-pointers (19) and is on pace to make nearly 430. He leads the league in scoring and has carried the Golden State Warriors to a league-best 18-2 record.
Curry is earning MVP chants in road arenas, from Charlotte to Los Angeles to Brooklyn and even Cleveland. The Warriors are ranked first in defensive rating and second in offensive rating, and Curry has had a major hand in both. His defense has improved by drastic margins, and he averaged 2.3 steals per game last week.
