NBA 2018-19: MVP Power Rankings Week 7

The race for the Most Valuable Player award is heating up as the NBA approaches the first quarter mark of the 2018-19 regular season.

The greats have separated themselves from the pack and we have a clear demarcation at our hands now. Some reputed rosters have failed to find the kind of traction they are known for, but that hasn't stopped the stars on those teams to keep excelling at their affairs. It is only a matter of time that balance is restored to the basketball universe and the players that lead the charge on the individual standings now, will have their sides amongst the very best as well.

The ongoing season has so far proved to be high-scoring, with eight blistering 50+ point performances already. We have at our hands, some highlights that might last the whole length of the season and some teams have not even played 24 games yet.

With so much action at our disposal already, let's use it to churn in the MVP power rankings.

#5 LeBron James

LeBron's alliance with the Lakers had to undergo unprecedented teething problems.

If The King's fifth on the MVP power rankings, you can only imagine what awaits you in the upcoming slides.

LeBron James' blockbuster to the LA Lakers was eclipsed by the team's 0-4 start to the season, raising second-thoughts in basketball minds across the league. But Bron has shown that he is too big, too dominant, too skilled, too experienced and basically, too great to be ignored, even if he finds himself part of a fairly young & playoff-inexperienced roster.

He is averaging 28.1 points per game(3rd best in the league) this season along with 7.8 rebounds & 6.6 assists. He ran into some friction earlier on in the season when the Lakers found themselves losing games they were supposed to win.

Even in his 16th season in the league, Bron shows no signs of slowing down as he has been averaging a sliver above 30 points for the previous 10 games, as a result of which LA have won 7 of their last 10. He has stepped up for his team in clutch moments when they have looked up to him for help and has willed his side to a current 6th spot (13-9) out East.

Extrapolating from where things stand right now for the Lakers, his numbers could very well increase in the near future should the young crew around him learn to complement his greatness on the floor as the season progresses.

#4 Anthony Davis

Davis was one of three NBA MVP finalists last year.

Anthony Davis was always a very good basketball player. But for the last couple of seasons, he has shown that he could be one of the all-time greats ever to play the game of basketball.

His effective length matched with the quickness on the floor makes him as skilled as any other ball-handler in the league, but more dominant. It is for the first time in three seasons that his average has dropped below 28 points a game (currently 27.8 ppg in 19 games played this season), yet is still impressive enough to land him a potential MVP candidate spot at the moment.

Along with his blazing offensive resume, he has been blocking the ball 2.7 times per game this season so far (3rd best in the league). He is averaging a career-high in points per game(27.8), rebounds per game(12.7) and assists per game(4.6) this year.

A 5-time NBA All-Star and former MVP finalist, Davis's assertive and adept playmaking skills make him a one-man army without any second thoughts.

#3 Joel Embiid

Embiid is averaging a double-double this year.

Embiid has been growing his game exponentially for the past couple of seasons, and it seems like he's ready to take the final leap this year.

The Cameroonian is averaging 27.5 points per game (6th in the league) across the 24 games he has played for Philly in the 2018-19 season. He is a monstrosity of a rebounder, pulling down a mind-boggling 13.4 boards (3rd in the league) on an average. He is playing the best basketball of his career this year, and expectedly so, is recording career-highs in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game and conversion rate from the 2-point territory.

He has been dropping 27.2 points on an average for the last 10 games, hence no wonder Philly have bagged 8 of their last 10 matchups and are strongly seated at 3rd in the East.

On the 14th November, he recorded his first career triple-double (19 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists) in a loss to Orlando Magic, a sign that he is becoming more complete as a player with every passing game.

#2 James Harden

James Harden is the reigning NBA regular season MVP

Although the Rockets are going through a rough patch owing to health issues and find themselves on the 8th spot (11-11) out West, that hasn't deterred Harden from doing what he does best, and that is, flat-out dominate on every isolation and get buckets however and whenever.

Coming off of an MVP winning season, James Harden is currently leading the league in points per game, with an average of 30.6 ppg(improving on his MVP season average of 30.4 ppg). He also holds the second highest score of this season with 54 points(in a 131-135 loss against the Wizards) after Kemba Walker's 60.

To provide some more perspective on his standing this year, let's bear in mind that he is 3rd in the league in assists per game(8.7), 3rd in steals per game(2.3) and leads everyone across the 30 teams in total three-pointers made this season, with 80 treys to his name so far.

His performance in the games he has played so far has got him a strong case for the MVP award again this year.

#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo

Shaquille O' Neal has officially named Giannis his 'Superman Successor'.

Now playing his sixth season in the league, Antetokounmpo has been an unreal force (as an understatement). His dominance and sheer grit to take over the game was already in the good books of many greats to have played the game, but the way his supremacy has donned upon us this year is something worth cherishing for a lifetime.

The 2-time All-Star is averaging an impressive 27.4 points and a jaw-dropping 12.9 rebounds per game along the 20 games he has started for the Bucks this season. Although carrying a near-7-feet frame, the Greek Freak's impeccable court-vision has earned him an average of 6 assists per game for the ongoing season.

Shooting 57% from the field and averaging 1.5 steals a game at the same time shows how versatile an arsenal he carries to war every night. The Greek Freak is certainly a force to be reckoned with, recording poster dunks and highlight plays on a nightly basis, on his way to demolishing and humiliating wins(Bucks are 2nd in the East).