Kia NBA MVP Race: November 22nd, 2021 | Latest Power Rankings by Sportskeeda

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors against the Brooklyn Nets
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors against the Brooklyn Nets

#3 Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat

Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 5th (↑2)

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1

Overall: Games played - 17; Games won - 11; Games lost - 6

Last Week: PPG - 30.7, APG - 6.3, RPG - 6.0

Overall: PPG - 25.1, APG - 5.4, RPG - 5.6

Last Week: FG% - 57%, SPG - 2.0,

Overall: FG% - 53.8%, SPG - 2.1.

Jimmy Butler was on the cusp of exiting the top five of our NBA MVP power rankings, but has improved his case instead. He returned from injury, and has averaged 30 points per game, continuing the Miami Heat's win streak.

He isn't at the level of Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant, but has a strong case to be a finalist alongside Jokic, Goerge and Antetokounmpo, among others.

He is leading the NBA in win shares and offensive win shares, and is top ten in every major category. Butler is leading the Miami Heat in points and steals, and is second-highest in rebounds, assists and blocks. Known as the Heat's Swiss army knife, Butler contributes in any way possible to lead his team to wins.


#2 Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets

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 - 21.0, APG - 3.0, RPG - 4.5

Overall: PPG - 28.6, APG - 4.9, RPG - 7.9

Last Week: FG% - 42.9%, 3P% - 44.4%, FT% - 88.9%

Overall: FG% - 56.7%, 3P% - 42.7%, FT% - 84.5%.

The Brooklyn Nets are first in the East, and Kevin Durant is leading the league in scoring. But he isn't first in any NBA MVP power rankings because he underperformed last week.

He averaged just 21 points, three assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. and the Nets lost their showtime matchup against the league-best Golden State Warriors. All eyes were on this game as the two MVP frontrunners went head-to-head, But Durant came up small with 19 points, while Stephen Curry dropped 37 with nine threes. Not only did the Warriors win, they blew out the Brooklyn Nets.

Kevin Durant will certainly improve his stock moving forward. One poor game or week doesn't determine the NBA MVP award, and Durant is still carrying his team night in and night out. However, if Kyrie Irving returns, then Durant's MVP case would weaken because his stats could go down. Then the narrative would be that he cannot be the sole MVP in a star-studded superteam.


#1 Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors against the Brooklyn Nets
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors against the Brooklyn Nets

Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 1st (-)

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 4; Games lost - 0

Overall: Games played - 17; Games won - 15; Games lost - 2

Last Week: PPG - 29.7, APG - 6.3, RPG - 4.3

Overall: PPG - 28.4, APG - 6.6, RPG - 5.9

Last Week: FT% - 100%, SPG - 1.7, 3P% - 52.8%

Overall: FT% - 96.2%, SPG - 1.7, 3P% - 41.1%.

Stephen Curry is running away with the NBA MVP award right now. He is averaging just 0.2 points fewer than the league-leading Durant in scoring, and is top five in most offensive statistics this season.

Moreover, he is also making a serious case for an improvement at the defensive end. The Golden State Warriors are 15-2 for the best record in the NBA, and are the only team with less than three losses.

Stephen Curry locked horns with his NBA MVP rival, Kevin Durant at the Barclays Center, and put on a show for the world. He received MVP chants from the road crowd to cement himself ahead of KD in the NBA MVP race.

Stephen Curry has the NBA's most 40-point games this season with four already. and has the lone 50-point game so far.

The Golden State Warriors were down by 13 points heading into the final quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road. But they eventually won the game by 15 points.

They outscored the home team 36-8 in the final period. That was possible because Stephen Curry created 33 straight points in ten minutes, scoring 20 points himself in that span.

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