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A month and a half after the start of the 2020-21 NBA season, some superstars are already establishing themselves in the NBA MVP discussion and building strong cases for the award. As the league enters Week 8, we here are our Power Rankings with the five leading candidates for the 2021 NBA MVP title.
2020-21 NBA MVP: February Power Rankings
The NBA MVP usually comes from one of the top-seeded teams in the league, although some circumstances and special achievements by a player during the regular season could change that.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has won the last two NBA MVPs and is having another great year. However, he may struggle to repeat his win, as three consecutive MVPs for the same player is not a common occurrence in NBA history (only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird have done it before).
In the early months of 2020-21 NBA season, the usual suspects can be found at the top of the NBA MVP race. LeBron James is always in the conversation, even in his 18th season, while we're also seeing young talents make their way onto the list of candidates.
#5 LeBron James (LA Lakers)
LeBron James remains the best player in today's NBA and is arguably the greatest in the history of the league. Yet again, he is one of the top candidates for the NBA MVP award, even though it is early in the 2020-21 season.
James is averaging 25 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game in the current campaign. He has also made 49% of his field goals, 41% of his threes, and 72% of his free throws.
The only reason James is not at the top of this list is Anthony Davis. The big man is the Lakers' leader in Player Efficiency Rating and most defensive categories such as Defensive Rating and Defensive Win Shares.
Still, while James' quest for an MVP might not be helped by Davis' game, they form a lethal duo and could finish with back-to-back championships at the end of the 2020-21 NBA season.
#4 Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)
Like LeBron James and Anthony Davis' situation, Paul George's great start to the 2020-21 NBA season may hurt Kawhi Leonard's MVP case. However, Leonard is currently in the 2020-21 NBA MVP mix after a great stretch of basketball.
The LA Clippers currently have one of the best records in the NBA, and Leonard is averaging 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists (career-high).
He is also on track to join the prestigious 50/40/90 club if he can continue his hot shooting streak. Leonard has made 51% of his field goals so far, 41% of his threes, and 92% of his free throws (career-high).
Leonard ranks second in PER (28.1) and second in Win Shares in the entire league.
#3 Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
The 2020-21 Golden State Warriors are not the unbeatable team they were a couple of years ago. Still, Steve Kerr's Dubs remain in the postseason fight and have been better than expected in the stacked Western Conference.
Stephen Curry has carried the team to a winning record, and his performances have kept him in the NBA MVP discussion throughout the first month of NBA action.
The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 28 points, five rebounds, and six assists per game and, even after a slow start, boasts impressive 46/41/92 shooting splits.
As expected, Steph Curry is leading the NBA in three-point baskets, and also ranks in the Top 20 in total assists.
#2 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
The Philadelphia 76ers are flying high in the NBA's Eastern Conference under Doc Rivers. Joel Embiid has been playing terrific basketball for the Sixers, and his case for the NBA MVP continues to grow stronger.
The Cameroonian center is averaging 28 points and 11 rebounds per game. He assists his teammates three times per night and has been an efficient scorer with 54/40/84 shooting splits.
The Sixers have an East-leading 15-6 record, and they are 14-2 in Embiid's 16 appearances. He also ranks second in Player Efficiency Rating (31.3) and leads the league in Win Shares per 48 Minutes.
#1 Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Nikola Jokic's numbers in the 2020-21 NBA season for the Denver Nuggets are worthy of the NBA MVP and could break the trend of awarding the title to a player from a top-seeded squad. Even though the Nuggets are not a Top-3 team in their conference, the Serbian center has been impressive and the team are inside the West's Top-5 right now.
Jokic's 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game have been huge for Denver, especially since they've been hit with the absence of some important players from their rotation.
Jokic has five Triple-Doubles in the season and is the leading candidate for the NBA MVP in the early stages of the season. He is putting up career highs in points per, rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
The Serbian is leading the league in PER (31.4), Offensive Win Shares, Win Shares, Box Plus/Minus, and Value over Replacement.
Also read: 5 active NBA players with the most personal fouls
