As we enter the second half of the 2022-23 NBA campaign, the fog around the MVP field is clearing, and familiar names are leading the charge. Here are the top 10 players in the running for the prestigious prize.
10. LeBron James, LakersPrevious ranking: Unranked
Think the Los Angeles Lakers are bad now? Imagine where they would be without James.
Since L.A. lost Anthony Davis to injury, James has put the team on his back, which is probably the kind of load-bearing that doctors would caution a 38-year-old against. In 12 straight games without his co-star, James has turned in some of his best performances of the season, including a 47-point outing against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 30 that saw him fall just shy of a triple-double.
During that same stretch, he's averaged 33.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.9 assists while somehow keeping a scuttling Lakers squad within striking distance of a play-in berth.
9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder Ian Maule / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious ranking: Unranked
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a tough out this season thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander's marvelous play. The Thunder own an 8-5 record over the last 13 games, ranking top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating for the fifth-best net rating at 5.8.
Over that stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 29.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. He’s exceeded 35 points three times since Dec. 19, including a 44-point performance in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and a 37-point effort in a blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
8. Donovan Mitchell, CavaliersPrevious ranking: Unranked
Mitchell is in the midst of the best individual campaign of his six-season career. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard is averaging a career-high 28.8 points on 62.4% true shooting for the league's 13th-best offense, keeping the team afloat during Darius Garland's somewhat inconsistent campaign.
Mitchell's 71-point performance against the Chicago Bulls was the largest single-game output in the NBA this season, and it ranks second this millennium behind Kobe Bryant's legendary 81-point outburst versus the Toronto Raptors in 2006. It reminded the league how effortlessly the 26-year-old can score when he's dialed in.
7. Joel Embiid, 76ers Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious ranking: 9
Embiid might come up short for the MVP award yet again, but if he can stay healthy, he will be a factor in the race until the very end. The 76ers talisman is putting up another sensational season on both ends of the floor. At 33.4 points per game, he's on pace to set a new career high for a third straight year, and he's also leading the fourth-best defense in the NBA.
Since ranking ninth in the last edition of these rankings, Embiid has failed to crack 30 points just three times in 12 appearances. in fact, he's scored more than 40 just as frequently over that period. Maintaining that baseline while avoiding foul trouble and nagging injuries should see him climb higher as the campaign progresses.
6. Ja Morant, GrizzliesPrevious ranking: 6
Holding firm at No. 6, Morant has the Memphis Grizzlies surging at the right time. With multiple teams collapsing in the Western Conference, Morant has posted 29 points, 8.5 assists, and four rebounds to help Memphis author a 10-3 record over its last 13 contests.
With wins over potential playoff teams including the Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings, the Grizzlies have a 3.5-game cushion for second in the conference. Morant scored 38 points against the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 11, his seventh 30-point performance over that 13-game stretch.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Vaughn Ridley / National Basketball Association / GettyPrevious ranking: 2
Overblown concern or genuine worry? After following up two 40-20 games with a 55-point spectacle to open 2023, Antetokounmpo scored single digits in two of his next four contests before missing back-to-back matchups against the Miami Heat with knee soreness. Overblown or not, the Milwaukee Bucks star has still done more than enough to remain in the top half of this list.
Antetokounmpo became the only player since Moses Malone in 1982 to register consecutive games of at least 40 points and 20 rebounds, pulling off the feat in Milwaukee's final two games of 2022. Even after his recent nine- and seven-point duds, he's still averaging 31.9 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over his last 11 games.
4. Kevin Durant, NetsPrevious ranking: 5
Missing at least a month with an MCL injury might be an obstacle to winning MVP down the line, but Durant is in the midst of one of the best offensive campaigns of his storied 15-season career. The former MVP is making every basket in sight, averaging 29.7 points on a career-best true shooting percentage.
His ridiculous scoring output in 2022-23 has transcended the MVP conversation. With 1,158 total points this season, Durant has moved to 14th on the all-time scoring list, just 26 points behind 13th-ranked Oscar Robertson.
3. Jayson Tatum, Celtics Jesse D. Garrabrant / National Basketball Association / GettyPrevious ranking: 1
Though he's dropped from No. 1, Tatum remains on the podium. His stats and team record are still impressive: The Boston Celtics have the best record in the league, and Tatum is averaging career highs in points (30.6) and rebounds (8.2).
But his shooting has cooled down, as he's made 46.1% of his shots from the field over his last 12 games - the lowest among players who rank top 10 in scoring over that stretch. His 3-point shooting has also dipped to 31.7% in that span, though the 24-year-old is still making three triples per game.
2. Luka Doncic, MavericksPrevious ranking: 3
Already no stranger to the incredible, Doncic somehow hit another gear over the last month. In just 13 games, the Dallas Mavericks star put up one 40-point showing, two 50-point displays, and a stupefying 60-point triple-double with 21 rebounds and 10 assists in a late-December win over the New York Knicks. The latter was the first and only 60-20-10 game in NBA history - further proof that Doncic is a talent unlike any other.
And yet, only now does it seem his astounding solo performances may finally be translating to consistent victories for the Mavericks, as they rolled off a seven-game winning streak to go 9-6 over the last month (during which Doncic sat out two losses). That the Slovenian star is doing all this without a true co-star only strengthens his MVP case.
1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets Bart Young / National Basketball Association / GettyPrevious ranking: 4
Voter fatigue be damned, Nikola Jokic is on pace to make it three MVPs on the bounce. The Serbian star is sitting on a virtual triple-double on the season and is the undisputed reason why the Denver Nuggets haven't relinquished the top spot in the Western Conference since our last MVP rankings. Over those 14 games, Jokic is shooting a blistering 50% on two 3-point attempts per contest while averaging 23.7 points, 11.3 assists and 11 rebounds.
Jokic is putting together another season for the ages, and the stats don't seem real. When he's on the floor, the Nuggets score at a rate that would easily top the league. When he isn't, Denver is worse offensively than the bottom-ranked Houston Rockets.
Honorable mentions: Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics).
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Jonathan Soveta, Donald Higney
https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2514099
By: Jonathan Soveta, Donald Higney
Title: NBA MVP Rankings: Luka, KD look to thwart Jokic's 3-peat chase
Sourced From: www.thescore.com/nba/news/2514099
Published Date: 01-17-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NBA team has been the most successful?
The answer to this question can be subjective and will likely remain a topic of debate for years. With 17 titles, the Los Angeles Lakers (with 17 titles) and the Boston Celtics (17 with 17 titles) have the most NBA championships. The Chicago Bulls were in their prime during the 1990s, when six titles were won by Phil Jackson, a Hall of Fame coach. Five championships have been won by the San Antonio Spurs since 1999. The Golden State Warriors have won four of the last ten. The Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980s, Kobe-Shaq Lakers in the 2000s and LeBron James's Miami Heat team, which won back-to-back NBA championships 2012 and 2013, are just a few other notable NBA teams.
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In the NBA, teams can offer higher salaries to players through a hybrid contract. These contracts allow for a portion of the salary to be added to the team's cap and the remainder is paid directly as a bonus to the player. This allows teams the ability to offer higher salaries and still be able to meet league salary restrictions. This gives players incentive to sign with certain teams as they could make more than they otherwise would.
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The NBA salary cap limits the total salary each team can earn. The league determines the salary limit each year. It's designed to prevent teams from signing multiple high priced players, creating unfair advantages and ensuring parity among teams. For free agents and trades, teams must keep the cap below 50 players. They can go above it if certain exceptions are made, such as offering Bird rights to players or signing them a contract with a portion taken out of the salary cap and the rest as a bonus. The salary cap is an integral part of the league and helps to ensure a competitive balance between teams.
Statistics
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
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The NBA All-Star Game 24 players are selected through a combination fan, media, player and voter voting. The vote is 50 percent cast by fans, with 25 percent each from the media and current player. Each vote counts as one and all three groups must submit their ballots simultaneously. Each conference chooses its players according to their position: two guards, two forwards, one center. If a player is injured or unable to play due to any other reason, then the NBA Commissioner will select a replacement for that player. The All-Star Game sees the participants compete against each in a predetermined format. The team that accumulates the most points in the four quarters wins will win. Each year, the winning team receives an additional donation to their charity foundation.
An award is given to the best player of the game. The All-Star Game draws together some of basketball's best talents. It is the most anticipated NBA event each year. It is a great opportunity for fans to see their favourite players face off and see who comes out on top. Fans look forward to the All-Star Game every year because it showcases some of the best players in the NBA. With its unique selection process, the NBA All-Star Game is sure to provide an incredible show of talent and entertainment.
