MVP Race: Ben Simmons joins the ranks

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives the Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. This list highlights stars who are in the mix for the 2019-20 MVP award due to their impressive play.

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. BEN SIMMONS, PHILADELPHIA

STATS: 16.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 8.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, 58.5 FG%

Over the past few weeks, Ben Simmons‘ play has sky-rocketed for the Philadelphia 76ers, as he led the team to a 6-3 record over that stretch, including a double-digit win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. In those nine outings, Simmons averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 2.3 steals per contest, showing a ridiculous level of dominance of both ends of the floor. Of course, the difference with Simmons’ opportunities recently has been the absence of Joel Embiid, who has been nursing a hand injury, so that only continues to raise questions about their potential as a duo. Regardless, it was an extremely impressive run for Simmons, one that shows how absurd his ceiling truly is.

9. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI

STATS: 20.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 44.3 FG%

Only five players this season can boast a 20/6/6 stat line; four of them will find themselves on this ranking, including Jimmy Butler, while the fifth is Russell Westbrook, a stat-stuffing machine. So Butler’s marks in 2019-20, even despite the porous shooting (particularly from three), have been elite. And it must also be noted that they’re far from empty, as the Miami Heat are an eyebrow-raising 10.3 points per 100 possessions better with Butler on the floor this year. The 30-year-old forward has been a two-way beast all year long, and he’s not looking like he’s slowing down anytime soon.

8. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND

STATS: 28.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 45.5 FG%

No. 5 in the NBA in scoring average and No. 6 in nightly assists, Damian Lillard has been the difference between the Portland Trail Blazers being within shouting distance of the West’s eighth seed this year and fighting for the top pick of the 2020 draft. He’s been performing at an outstanding level while his team has struggled without Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum (for a stretch). Lillard is a lock to earn All-Star honors when the reserves are chosen by coaches soon.

7. NIKOLA JOKIC, DENVER

STATS: 19.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 50.7 FG%

Nikola Jokic’s hot stretch of play has continued recently, with the star center averaging 23.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists over his last six games, leading his Denver Nuggets to a 4-2 record over that stretch. Despite his slow start to 2019-20, Jokic ranks fifth in Value Over Replacement on the season, sixth in Box Plus/Minus and ninth in Win Shares, which just goes to show how well he’s been playing for a couple of months now. Jokic has led the Nuggets to the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and a Top-10 ranking in Net Rating.

6. KAWHI LEONARD, LA CLIPPERS

STATS: 27.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 46.6 FG%

Despite all the hoopla regarding load management, Kawhi Leonard has continued to perform like one of the very best players in the league this season, ranking seventh in nightly scoring and fifth in steals. Leonard’s also continuing to show the frightening ability to keep improving elements of his game, with this season the betterment coming to his playmaking, where he’s shattering career marks in assist average (5.2, when his previous career-high was 3.5) and assist rate (28.1 percent, when his previous career-best was 18.9). Leonard’s become the complete package on offense, and that, plus his already elite defense, has turned him into an even bigger monster of a player.

5. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS

STATS: 29.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 46.4 FG%

First-time All-Star Luka Doncic has maintained a steady-but-excellent level of play recently for the Dallas Mavericks, without any super memorable performances but without hitting a nadir, either. Doncic became the youngest European player ever to be named an All-Star last week, and the youngest All-Star starter since LeBron James, decent honors for the 20-year-old Slovenian, who is going to amass many more before it’s all said and done.

4. ANTHONY DAVIS, LA LAKERS

STATS: 26.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG

A complete beast on both ends of the floor, Anthony Davis ranks 11th in scoring this year and third in blocks, all while shooting nearly 87 percent from the foul stripe, an insane rate for a big man attempting over eight free throws per game. It’s that touch at the line along with the frequency that helps make Davis such a dominant, efficient scorer despite his struggles as a three-point shooter, where he’s sinking just 30.4 percent of his opportunities. Either way, Davis, arguably the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, has been one of the league’s most dominant players this season.

3. LEBRON JAMES, LA LAKERS

STATS: 25.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 49.4 FG%

Over the weekend, LeBron James passed the unforgettable Kobe Bryant for No. 3 in the league’s all-time scoring list, and spoke to the Black Mamba over the phone in the locker room one last time before the unthinkable tragedy that occurred the following morning.

Now, James is taking it upon himself to carry on Bryant’s legacy, as he mentioned in this poignant Instagram post…

View this post on Instagram

I’m Not Ready but here I go. Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had! I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!! 😢😢😢😢💔. Man I love you big bro. My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation💜💛 and it’s my responsibility to put this shit on my back and keep it going!! Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here! There’s so much more I want to say but just can’t right now because I can’t get through it! Until we meet again my brother!! #Mamba4Life❤️🙏🏾 #Gigi4Life❤️🙏🏾

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Jan 27, 2020 at 6:43pm PST

…and if there’s anyone that can uphold what Bryant stood for, on and off the floor, it’s LeBron James.

It feels like we’re about to see a different LeBron over the second half of the season. That’s a scary notion for the rest of the NBA.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON

STATS: 36.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 43.9 FG%

Prior to getting rest over the past week to nurse an injured thigh, James Harden’s play had taken a huge dip, with the former league MVP averaging just 23.0 points and 6.0 assists over his previous five games before the injury, on brutal 33.3/13.6/85.0 shooting splits. Perhaps the rest will allow Harden to find his previous form, where it looked like he could get close to averaging 40 points nightly, because if play does continue to regress, the Houston Rockets will be in serious trouble come playoff time.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE

STATS: 30.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 55.7 FG%

The Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo is posting a legitimately unbelievable campaign, as the Milwaukee Bucks forward has a chance to become just the fourth player in league history to post a 29.9/12.0/5.0 stat line, along with Wilt Chamberlain (who did it twice), Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor. That’s pretty decent company to be in for Antetokounmpo, who would be joining the ranks alongside three Hall-of-Famers. Then again, if Antetokounmpo continues to perform at this level for another few years, there’s little doubt he’ll be joining those players in the Hall of Fame one day, too.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

MVP Race: Jimmy Butler slipping, Kawhi Leonard rising

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI

STATS: 20.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.9 SPG, 44.1 FG%

Jimmy Butler’s play has taken a slight dip recently, which would explain why he’s ranked lower on our list this week than he has in a while. In his last three games prior to missing the Miami Heat’s Monday night contest against the Sacramento Kings, Butler averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds on porous 36.4/28.6/80.0 shooting splits, so maybe getting that last game off to rest what was described as a hip injury was for the best, and could help the All-Star get back on track. At the same time, Butler’s jumper has been off all season long, so Miami is going to have to hope he finds his groove from the outside if they want to be at peak form when the playoffs roll around.

9. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND

STATS: 27.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 44.6 FG%

On Monday, Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard set a career-high and MLK Day record scoring clip when he dropped 61 points against the Golden State Warriors, to go with 11 triples, 10 rebounds and seven assists on the evening.

It was yet another magnificent outing for Lillard, who is the sole reason the Blazers are within two games of the Western Conference’s eighth seed despite what a tumultuous campaign they’ve had so far. With their All-NBA floor general in the game, Portland is 11.2 points per 100 possessions better than when he’s on the bench, which speaks to the heavy load Lillard has had to carry this year.

Usually, players on sub-.500 teams don’t get much of a look for MVP, but Lillard’s individual brilliance this year warrants a lot of credit. Without him, the Blazers would be battling for higher draft lottery odds and not for a spot in the postseason.

8. DONOVAN MITCHELL, UTAH

STATS: 24.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 46.0 FG%

According to multiple advanced metrics, including Win Shares per 48 Minutes, Box Plus/Minus and Player Efficiency Rating, 2019-20 has easily been Donovan Mitchell’s best career season, as the talented young 2-guard has finally made the jump many expected him to make as a sophomore last year. Last week, Mitchell posted a ridiculous road performance, dropping 46 points and six rebounds while sinking seven three-pointers, many of the beyond difficult variety.

Mitchell’s high level of play has helped catapult the Utah Jazz to ranking sixth in net rating past the halfway mark of the season after a slow start to the campaign for the team. If Mitchell keeps it up, Utah is only going to get tougher.

7. KAWHI LEONARD, LA CLIPPERS

STATS: 26.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.0 SPG, 46.8 FG%

It’s somehow flown under the radar even despite playing in a massive market, but Kawhi Leonard has been performing at an absurd level recently, averaging 36.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.8 steals over his last five games on fiery 55.8/42.9/86.1 shooting splits. The Los Angeles Clippers are 4-1 in that stretch, with the only loss coming on the road to a tough Denver Nuggets team. Leonard’s been so great this year that the Clippers rank fifth in net rating league-wide, despite the fact that Leonard and Paul George have only suited up together 18 total times this entire season, with a 14-4 record to show for it in those contests. Once that duo manages to string together a few weeks’ worth of games together, it’ll be interesting to see how the Clippers are performing. Could be scary.

6. NIKOLA JOKIC, DENVER

STATS: 19.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 51.2 FG%

A lot of the talk centered around the Nuggets recently has been about 21-year-old phenom Michael Porter Jr.‘s recent breakout, which is a shame because that has somewhat overshadowed All-Star big man Nikola Jokic’s impressive uptick in play. Since the start of the month, Jokic is averaging 23.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while sinking a steamy 40 percent of his outside looks. Jokic has been so good that even despite a lot of injuries to the top of their rotation, Denver is currently second in the West with a 30-13 record. The Nuggets’ future with Jokic and Porter in their frontcout is looking scarily promising.

5. ANTHONY DAVIS, LA LAKERS

STATS: 26.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.6 BPG

Ranking ninth in the NBA in points per game and third in blocks, the only reason Anthony Davis has taken a slight tumble in our rankings this week is due to the fact that he missed five games with a bruised tailbone. In his return outing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis had a quiet outing, dropping just nine points and four rebounds in under 23 minutes in what was probably L.A.’s worst performance of the season. No need to fret, though, as Davis will likely be back to his dominant self before too long.

4. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS

STATS: 28.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 46.7 FG%

After some up-and-down play since returning from an ugly ankle sprain, Luka Doncic was outstanding against Portland on Friday against the Blazers, exploding for 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, a performance that included multiple clutch shots, like the dagger three that effectively put the game to bed:

Luka Doncic (35 PTS) steps back for his career-high 8th triple and to extend the Mavs lead!@trailblazers 109@dallasmavs 120

45.6 to play on ESPN pic.twitter.com/0QhTTiLu7F

— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2020

That was just one of Doncic’s eight three-pointers on the night, too.

With recent changes the Dallas Mavericks have made to Doncic’s minutes (he’ll no longer play entire first and third quarters like he was earlier in the season), expect to see many more clutch moments coming up for the Slovenian superstar, now that he’ll have more energy late in games.

3. LEBRON JAMES, LA LAKERS

STATS: 25.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 11.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 49.1 FG%

After somewhat struggling in the month of December after missing some time with injury (and we use struggling here in comparison to his otherworldly standards), LeBron James has bounced back in a big way thus far in January, averaging 25.7 points and 11.3 assists over the past three weeks while shooting over 50 percent from the floor. James’ best recent performance came on Saturday against the Houston Rockets, when he dropped 31 points and 12 assists as he was serenaded by MVP chants…by a road crowd in Houston. Shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that James is the leading All-Star vote-getter this season.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON

STATS: 36.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 44.1 FG%

There may not be a full-blown crisis quite yet in Houston, but things are teetering as the team has lost five of their last six games and fallen to sixth in the West. It may not be so coincidental that over that stretch, James Harden has been struggling mightily, averaging 27.7 points per game while shooting 34.8 percent from the floor, and 23.9 percent from beyond the arc. As has been the case for years, the Rockets will only go as far as Harden takes them, so they’re going to need their superstar 2-guard to find his jumper, and soon, because you don’t want to fall too far behind in the Western Conference playoff race at any point of the season.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE

STATS: 30.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 55.4 FG%

On the season, Giannis Antetokounmpo ranks second league-wide in scoring and fifth in rebounds while placing second in field-goal percentage among ball-handlers. His Milwaukee Bucks, meanwhile, are second in offensive efficiency, first in defensive efficiency and first in overall net rating – by a mile. Things are going so well for Giannis and Co., in fact, that the reigning league MVP and 2019-20 MVP frontrunner recently told The Athletic that there isn’t a team in the league that the Bucks can’t beat. Bold statement, but one that Milwaukee has very much backed up thus far this season.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

MVP Race: Donovan Mitchell enters the picture

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. DONOVAN MITCHELL, UTAH

STATS: 24.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 46.1 FG%

Over their last 15 games, the Utah Jazz have been the league’s best team in net rating, with a robust +10.5 mark and a 14-1 record to their name in that stretch. Prior to missing Utah’s last game and most of the contest prior to that due to illness, Donovan Mitchell was leading the way for the Jazz in their impressive turnaround, averaging 24.8 points and 6.0 assists over his last 13 full outings while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor. Mitchell’s assists are up over the past month because he’s taken over primary playmaking duties for Utah after offseason acquisition Mike Conley, who has been a disappointment so far in his first campaign with the Jazz, went out with injury. The new role has suited Mitchell well.

9. KAWHI LEONARD, LA CLIPPERS

STATS: 25.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 45.4 FG%

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard started the season off on a cold streak shooting from the outside, followed that up with a long stretch of accurate marksmanship and has now seen his accuracy from beyond the arc plummet again. Leonard has hit just nine of his last 38 attempts from three, good for a paltry 23.7-percent clip. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Clippers have struggled in those six outings Leonard has suited up in, going 3-3 in that stretch including a humiliating 26-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. On the season, L.A. has struggled to really get things going at an elite level because Leonard and his superstar running partner on the wing, Paul George, have only played together 18 times with both missing time due to injury and injury maintenance. In those 18 games, however, the Clippers boast a 14-4 record, indicating how nasty they are when they have their two All-NBA-caliber forwards available.

8. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND

STATS: 26.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 7.6 APG, 3.4 3PTM, 44.1 FG%

As the Portland Trail Blazers’ season continues to go down the drain, Damian Lillard is doing his best to prevent things from truly bottoming out, ranking eighth league-wide in scoring, eighth in assists and fourth in total three-pointers. Portland, who sits at 16-24 on the year, is a bit lucky it’s a down year for the bottom of the West, though, so they’re only two games out of the eighth seed as we approach the All-Star break. Without Lillard’s superhuman efforts this season, the Blazers would be closer to fighting for the top pick in the 2020 draft than for a shot at the postseason.

7. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI

STATS: 20.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.9 SPG, 44.7 FG%

The numbers (those that indicated that the team’s record was vastly outpacing their production on both ends) finally caught up to the Miami Heat last week, as Miami followed up an impressive road win against the Indiana Pacers with back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets and, even more disappointingly, the New York Knicks. It’s hard to fault Jimmy Butler for the two losses, however, as the four-time All-Star averaged 29.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in those two games. It must be noted, though, that Butler’s shooting continues to be an issue on the year, as this stat would indicate:

Jimmy Butler has an eFG% of .473, which would be his lowest since 2013-14 https://t.co/fZKwRNAYiA

— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) January 13, 2020

With that said, it’s kind of insane that Butler still ranks among the Top-10 players in the league in multiple advanced metrics, including Value Over Replacement Player, Box Plus/Minus and Win Shares per 48 Minutes, despite his poor shooting.

6. NIKOLA JOKIC, DENVER

STATS: 19.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 6.4 APG, 51.0 FG%

It was quite the productive week for Nikola Jokic, who has averaged 29.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists on ridiculous 59.2/56.5/71.0 shooting splits over his last four games. Jokic’s massive jump in play over the past month and change has helped propel the Denver Nuggets to a 27-12 record, the league’s No. 9 net rating and the No. 2 seed in the West. As such, Jokic has seen his placement in our weekly MVP rankings increase every week for the past month.

5. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS

STATS: 29.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 46.8 FG%

It was a rough week for Luka Doncic, shooting-wise, as the Slovenian star has made just three of his last 15 three-point attempts and shot under 40 percent from the floor in that stretch. With Doncic’s struggles, the Dallas Mavericks have likewise hit a rough patch over the past week, dropping two out of three games, though their last contest was a solid bounce-back win for Dallas against the Philadelphia 76ers. Like Doncic recently said after a humbling defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers, even despite his insane production early on in his career, he still has a lot of areas he can improve. That’s a scary thought considering as is, he’s already posting a near 29/10/9 stat line, but it’s true. That’s how insane his upside is.

4. ANTHONY DAVIS, LA LAKERS

STATS: 27.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.6 BPG, 50.4 FG%

Anthony Davis’ last few games don’t give us much to discuss, considering he’s missed time with a bruised tailbone, but for the season as a whole, the Lakers power forward has looked like one of the very best players in the league. Sure, he’s done that before, but this season, Davis has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can do it on a contender, unlike his time with the New Orleans Pelicans. On the season, Davis’ is the league’s highest-scoring pure big man (the player coming up at the top of our list is still more of a wing than a big) while ranking second in blocks and fourth in paint points. Few players can match Davis’ two-way dominance this campaign.

3. LEBRON JAMES, LA LAKERS

STATS: 25.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 48.8 FG%

The league leader in assists per game, LeBron James is winning the ongoing battle against Father Time, proving that age is nothing but a number by dominating even as he hit 35 years old. We’ll let Butler, who came up at No. 7 in this ranking as in an elite player in his own right, explain in his own words what makes James so good:

“So … the five toughest players I’ve ever guarded. Let’s get to it. LeBron James, Positionless, Los Angeles Lakers. I didn’t want to talk about LeBron here. I really didn’t. I wanted to give some other guys some shine. But you can’t have a 5 Toughest list and not have LeBron on it. He’s still the best all-around player in the league. He literally does everything well. He can shoot. Pass. Attack the rim. Defend. You need a bucket? LeBron’s got you. You need a rebound, a steal or a block? He’s got you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. Bron’s got you. When you talk about a combination of speed and athleticism, plus a combo of strength and explosiveness, you gotta start with LeBron.”

Couldn’t have said it any better ourselves, Jimmy.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON

STATS: 37.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 38 3PT%

For the first time in a long time, James Harden laid an egg last week, dropping 17 points on 17 field-goal attempts in a 21-point loss for the Houston Rockets against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It came at an inopportune time for The Beard, at least as far as these rankings go, because Harden came close to surpassing the top player on our list last week before falling further behind in this week’s edition. It should be noted: Harden bounced back quickly from that stinker, dropping 32 points on 17 field-goal tries two nights later in what was a 30-point win for Houston.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE

STATS: 29.8 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 55 FG%

The Milwaukee Bucks don’t usually dominate headlines, unless it’s the media discussing whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo could leave one day as a free agent, which is unfortunate, because, as it turns out, they’ve been by far the best team in the league this season while being led by the Greek Freak. Antetokounmpo isn’t just the league’s No. 2 player in scoring average or No. 6 player in rebounding average or an improved shooter making over 32 percent of his three-point looks, he’s also a leading candidate for Defensive Player in the Year, as the Bucks boast the league’s stingiest defense thanks to Antetokounmpo’s prowess on that end. Simply put: Antetokoumpo dominates in just about every facet of basketball on a nightly basis, and that should get talked about more often than his free agency, which is still a decent amount of time away.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

NBA MVP Race: James Harden closing in on top spot

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. KEMBA WALKER, BOSTON

STATS: 22.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.2 APG, 3.6 3PTM, 39.8 3PT%

Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker is well on his way to earning All-Star honors for the fourth season running, as his play this year has been excellent, even as he deals with minor injuries. Walker is shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc on the year, the second-highest mark of his career, and a noteworthy clip considering the degree of difficulty on most of his shot attempts. What’s more, as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, Walker is posting ridiculous numbers, producing 1.081 points per possession (PPP) on those chances, the fourth-highest rate in the league, per Synergy Sports.

9. KAWHI LEONARD, LA CLIPPERS

STATS: 25.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 44.8 FG%

It’s going to be nearly impossible for Kawhi Leonard to ever receive real MVP consideration with the way his teams manage his minutes during the regular season. Even so, when he has played for the Los Angeles Clippers this season, Leonard has been downright nasty, ranking 11th league-wide in scoring and eighth in steals. Additionally, ater a slow start to the season shooting the ball, Leonard is nailing 40.9 percent of his three-point looks over his last 14 games, which has helped up his efficiency on the campaign.

8. NIKOLA JOKIC, DENVER

STATS: 18.1 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.4 APG, 49.8 FG%

There’s no question that Nikola Jokic hasn’t yet been able to reach his form of previous seasons, when he was producing like a legitimate Top-5 MVP candidate. Regardless, over the past month or so, the Serbian center has more closely started to resemble his 2017 to 2019 self, as Jokic is averaging 20.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists on tidy 54.4/38.5/85.1 shooting splits dating back Dec. 5. Still, that hasn’t quite helped the Denver Nuggets right the ship fully yet this season; the team is 3-3 in their last six games while being outscored by 30 in that stretch, including a 12-point loss to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans, a 26-point blowout loss to the Houston Rockets and a 14-point loss to the Washington Wizards.

7. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND

STATS: 27.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 3.4 3PTM, 44.2 FG%

If you only look at the numbers, Damian Lillard would be a lock to be in this year’s MVP conversation. The flame-throwing lead guard ranks eighth in scoring in 2019-20, seventh in assists and is the league’s most productive high-volume pick-and-roll ball-handler, according to Synergy, creating 1.118 PPP on those chances. However, MVP candidates are pretty much guaranteed to come out of winning teams, and with the Portland Trail Blazers at 15-22 and 10th in the West, even despite Lillard’s superhuman efforts, there’s essentially no chance the Weber State legend gets serious consideration for the award at year’s end.

6. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI

STATS: 20.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 42.9 FG%

A heavy workload finally led to the Miami Heat giving Jimmy Butler a rest for Sunday’s game against the Blazers, though the team officially termed Butler’s absence as being due to back soreness. Butler continues to struggle shooting the basketball this season, as the All-Star forward has made just 14.3 percent of his three-point opportunities in his last 13 games. Perhaps the ailing back could have something to do with that, though. Nevertheless, Butler still ranks as an extremely efficient offensive player thanks to his insane ability to get to the foul line this year, as Butler leads the league (among qualified players) in free-throw attempt rate at 71.4 percent. For reference, James Harden’s free-throw attempt rate this season is 50.7 percent.

5. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS

STATS: 29.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 47.0 FG%

After missing nearly two weeks of action due to a sprained ankle, Luka Doncic has regained his outstanding form recently by averaging 35.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists over his last three games while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 81.5 percent on nine nightly free-throw attempts. Even despite Doncic’s excellent level of play, however, the Dallas Mavericks have hit a slight rut in the past week, as the team has lost three of their last four contests, including a shocking three-point defeat to the Charlotte Hornets at home on Sunday.

4. LEBRON JAMES, LA LAKERS

STATS: 24.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 11.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 48.6 FG%

The league-leader in assists per game, LeBron James continues to perform at a ridiculous level for his age (35). It must be noted, however, that since returning from the groin injury, James is shooting just 43.5 percent from the floor and 23.3 percent from beyond the arc, and he’s not making up for it at the foul stripe, where he’s attempting a career-low 5.5 free throws nightly this season (and sinking them at a paltry 67.7 percent). There are obvious signs LeBron isn’t anywhere near his prime form anymore, and even so, he’s still posting a nearly 25/8/11 stat line, which goes to show what a specimen he is.

3. ANTHONY DAVIS, LA LAKERS

STATS: 27.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.6 BPG, 50.7 FG%

It may not be the popular idea, but it’s pretty clear Anthony Davis is the Los Angeles Lakers’ best player this season, and not LeBron James, because only one other player in the Association, who’s coming up at the top of our list, is as destructive as Davis on both ends of the floor. Davis is putting up a Defensive Player of the Year campaign while averaging nearly 28 points nightly, an absurd feat for any player, let alone one playing in the bright lights of L.A. The fact that Davis, a big man through and through, is shooting nearly nine free throws per game and making them at an 86.2 percent rate is an accomplishment that doesn’t get enough credit.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON

STATS: 38.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 38.6 3PT%

For the first time in a while, we came close to placing James Harden first overall in this ranking, as The Beard missed the spot by just two votes. And considering his level of play recently, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Harden overtake the top spot soon. Over his last 11 games, Harden is averaging 39.3 points nighty while chipping in 7.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks. That’s not even the crazy part, though. Over that stretch, Harden is shooting 52.7 percent from the floor, 80.9 percent from the foul stripe and 49.6 percent(!) from three-point range. Consider the fact that the former league MVP isn’t the type to settle for spot-up jumpers and is shooting multiple heavily contested step-back triples a night, the fact he’s making nearly half of his chances from deep over such a long stretch is absolutely bonkers. That, plus the Houston Rockets coming out victorious in nine of those 11 games, have helped Harden make the 2019-20 MVP race quite interesting.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE

STATS: 30.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 55.6 FG%

Being the best player on the top team in the league – by a mile, too, as the Milwaukee Bucks’ net rating of +12.4 is the best mark in the NBA by 4.7 points – is what gave Giannis Antetokounmpo the nod over Harden for us. Antetokounmpo is a monster defensively who is also putting up 30 points nightly and shooting a career-high 33.5 percent from beyond the arc, making him a legit threat shooting the basketball for the first time in his career. That’s a scary proposition for a player who is already so good at finishing around the basket. The only thing stopping Antetokounmpo from an even more efficient campaign is his 61.1 free-throw percentage, but he makes up for that by being so good at every other aspect of scoring.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

Ranking the likeliest NBA players to make their All-Star debut this year

HoopsHype ranks the 12 players who have the biggest chance to make their first All-Star roster this season, including Luka Doncic.

All-Star appearances are often used as a way to partially define legacies, with players who rack up the distinction being rated highly in the minds of NBA aficionados. And although that is far from the best way to define someone’s career, All-Star berths do tell us a lot about which players are considered to be the most impactful (or, sometimes, popular) on any given year.

This season, various up-and-coming stars have the chance to make their first appearances in the prestigious exhibition; in fact, a few of them came quite close last year.

The first returns of All-Star fan voting came in today, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way for the East and a player coming up at the top of this ranking coming in first for the West.

Below, we rank the 12 NBA players who have the best opportunity to make their first All-Star Game this season.

12. MALCOLM BROGDON

Not only did Malcolm Brogdon have to overcome the transition to a new team, he’s had to take over the role of a primary playmaker for the first time in his career as well, with Victor Oladipo still not back from injury.

And despite all that, Brogdon is still having his best NBA season.

The Virginia product is averaging 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.6 assists in 2019-20 on 45.2/33.3/93.3 shooting splits; he’s one of just nine players putting up an 18/4/7 stat line this year, with names like LeBron James and James Harden joining him on the list.

Additionally, Brogdon’s impact has been far from empty, as the Pacers have been one of this season’s pleasant surprises at 21-12 through 33 games, which puts them sixth in the East.

Indiana took a risk offering Brogdon such a rich contract despite him having experience mostly as a secondary, or even tertiary, up until this season. Thus far, however, it’s worked out wonderfully for both parties.

11. DOMANTAS SABONIS

Brogdon’s pick-and-roll partner in Indiana, Domantas Sabonis, also has a solid shot of making his first All-Star roster this season.

The 23-year-old has improved every single year since reaching the NBA, and 2019-20 has been no different, as Sabonis is averaging a career-best 17.4 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per contest.

Sabonis ranks fourth league-wide in nightly rebounds and fourth among centers in nightly assists, proving what a well-rounded big man he’s become. Those numbers and the effect they’re having on the Pacers’ strong season could be enough to push Sabonis towards his first All-Star berth, though the East’s depth in the frontcourt positions could have something to say about that.

Even so, the legendary Arvydas’ son is making a strong case for himself.

10. BRANDON INGRAM

For years, we’ve waited to see Brandon Ingram start to reach the huge ceiling that many forecast he had when he was just an NBA prospect. Well, this season, we’re starting to see what a fully functional Ingram looks like and, we must say, it’s pretty scary.

Ingram has been nothing short of spectacular in his first campaign as a New Orleans Pelican, with averages of 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists to his name, but perhaps even more impressive than that is the fact that after shooting just 32.9 percent from three over his first three seasons, he’s now hitting 41 percent of his outside looks, which has made him nearly impossible to defend.

According to Synergy, Ingram ranks as a “very good” scorer in four separate play-types: as the pick-and-roll ball-handler, as a spot-up shooter, in isolation and in transition. It’s difficult to get much more well-rounded than that.

There are a couple of things standing in Ingram’s way as far as his first All-Star appearance goes, however. For starters, the West is absolutely loaded on the wings, particularly with LeBron, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George absolute locks to make it every season. Second, the Pelicans have been one of the league’s most disappointing teams this year, even despite their recent good form, with a 10-23 record through 33 contests.

Regardless, Ingram’s numbers are so eye-popping that they could be enough to get him in as an All-Star reserve anyway.

9. DEVIN BOOKER

For a while early on in the season, the Phoenix Suns looked like a new team, as they boasted a 7-4 record through 11 games with a +6.4 net rating (the league’s fourth-best mark to that point) to show for it, all with Devin Booker leading the way as the franchise’s lone star-level player.

Since then, however, things have fallen off a cliff for Phoenix. The Suns are 6-16 from Nov. 14 through Dec. 29, and have the NBA’s 10th-worst net rating in that stretch at -3.8. Overall, they now sit 10th in the West on a year where the bottom of the conference is weaker than usual, meaning the opportunity is there to sneak into the postseason for the first time since 2010-11.

Simply put, if Phoenix can’t at least hover close to the playoff line, that’s going to hurt Booker’s All-Star credentials. He’s been productive for years now, with this season being no different at 24.4 points and 6.3 assists per game, but if he can’t prove he’s an actual outcome-changer, there’s a good chance he gets ignored yet again once coaches have to decide who the All-Star reserves are going to be this year.

Fans are sort of ignoring Booker’s All-Star candidacy at this point, too, as the first fan-vote returns have Booker sitting ninth in the West among guards, behind… Alex Caruso.

8. SPENCER DINWIDDIE

Despite major injuries to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets have remained afloat this year with a 16-15 record and a seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.

A lot of that has to do with Spencer Dinwiddie putting the team on his back for most of the campaign. Dinwiddie is averaging 22.5 points and 6.8 assists per game in 2019-20, and is putting up career-best marks in catch-all advanced metrics Box Plus/Minus and Win Shares per 48 Minutes. And he’s doing that despite shooting quite poorly from beyond the arc this season at 29.8 percent.

Without Dinwiddie, the Nets would surely be sitting outside of the postseason picture out East, and that, plus a usual All-Star lock-in Irving missing so much of the year, could help the 26-year-old make the prestigious exhibition roster.

7. JAYSON TATUM

After a down sophomore season, at least relative to expectations following such a strong debut, Jayson Tatum’s career trajectory is back on the upswing thanks to his fantastic level of play in 2019-20.

On the year, the Boston Celtics forward is averaging 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists nightly and playing some of his best defense since reaching the NBA. He might not be Boston’s best player, that honor would probably belong to Kemba Walker, but Tatum has been a huge part of the Celtics’ bounce-back season (they boast a 22-8 record through 30 outings) after what was deemed widely as a disappointing 2018-19.

Tatum ranks as a very good scorer, per Synergy, both out of the pick-and-roll and in isolation (both with passes included), placing in the 81st percentile and 80th percentile in the two all-important play-types, respectively. The Duke product is really starting to live up to the efficient bucket-getter potential he had coming out of college.

6. DONOVAN MITCHELL

Similar to Tatum, Donovan Mitchell didn’t make the leap some expected as a sophomore last season. Also like Tatum, however, the third-year guard out of Louisville has placed himself right back on an upward trajectory in 2019-20 with an improved level of play.

Mitchell is averaging 25.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this year along with a career-high 55.4 true shooting percentage. He’s also posting career-best marks in Box Plus/Minus and Win Shares per 48 Minutes, which do a good job of measuring the nightly impact made by players.

Most importantly, Mitchell has the Jazz sitting at a 20-12 record and sixth in the West, even despite the poor play of the team’s big offseason acquisition, Mike Conley. In fact, once Conley went down and Mitchell took over more primary playmaker duties, his play got even better, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens once the veteran floor general gets healthy.

5. BAM ADEBAYO

Sitting behind Hassan Whiteside for the last two-and-a-half seasons, Bam Adebayo seldom got the chance to show off his immense skill level, besides a random flash here or there. This year, though, as a full-time Day-1 starter, that’s no longer the case, as Adebayo has taken his new role and run with it.

Playing over 30 minutes nightly for the first time in his career, Adebayo is averaging 15.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting over 56 percent from the floor. Adebayo’s explosion this year has helped the Miami Heat far exceed even the loftiest expectations, as the team sits second in the East at 24-8 through 32 games.

Sure, the addition of Jimmy Butler has played a huge part in that, but without Adebayo performing like an All-Star, on both ends of the floor, Miami wouldn’t be where they’re at today.

4. RUDY GOBERT

Arguably 2018-19’s biggest All-Star snub, Rudy Gobert has maintained a strong level of play this season, but hasn’t quite improved upon his play from last year, which could mean the big Frenchman just misses out on being an All-Star again.

Gobert is averaging 14.8 points per game this season (down from 15.9 last), to go along with 14.2 rebounds (career-high mark) and 1.9 blocks nightly. The big man is also sixth in Win Shares in 2019-20 and 12th in Value Over Replacement Player. What’s more, the 27-year-old is making another strong case for Defensive Player of the Year, which would be his third season in a row winning the award.

The 7-footer’s candidacy for All-Star status this season will be an interesting one to monitor, as it’ll really depend on how coaches and media view his defensive acumen and whether they believe he should be rewarded for that, because it looks like the fans won’t be helping Gobert make his first All-Star roster.

As of the first return of fan votes, Gobert did not rank among the Top-10 vote-getters among Western Conference frontcourt players. Mind you, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard both did.

Yikes.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

3. TRAE YOUNG

The Atlanta Hawks may be having a pretty disappointing season, but it’s impossible to fault Trae Young for that. The second-year guard ranks fourth in the league in scoring this year at 28.5 points per game and fifth in assists with 8.3 nightly.

His vision as a playmaker is nearly unmatched, he can hit reliably from deep three-point range (Young is shooting a healthy 35.5 percent from 25 to 29 feet from the basket) and he has the ability to draw fouls at a high rate (shooting over seven free throws nightly), where he sinks freebies at 84.5 percent, which gives his offensive efficiency a huge boost.

So although the Hawks have been disappointing in 2019-20, their most promising player has not been. The fans have taken notice, too, as the first returns of votes have Young as the No. 1 vote-getter among Eastern Conference guards, ahead of Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker.

He still might not be a lock to make it because of the media and coaches vote accounting for 50 percent of the total, but the fans are doing their best to push the talented floor general in.

2. PASCAL SIAKAM

A surefire lock to make his All-Star debut this season, barring injury, is Toronto Raptors swingman Pascal Siakam. After a Most Improved Player campaign last year, Siakam is making the rare case to win the award again this year thanks to another massive leap in his level of play.

On the year, Siakam is averaging 25.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists nightly while hitting a career-best 39.2 percent of his triples. Siakam’s big improvement has made the sting of Kawhi Leonard’s departure hurt a little less, as the Raptors boast a 23-11 record and the league’s No. 6 net rating at +6.0.

Siakam has missed Toronto’s last seven games due to injury, and in that span, the team’s net rating has dropped and their record is just 4-3, including a blowout loss to the Celtics, which goes to show how important the 25-year-old to the team’s chances of Eastern Conference contention later in the year.

1. LUKA DONCIC

Without question, Luka Doncic is posting one of the best sophomore campaigns in league history, averaging 29.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.9 assists per contest while shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 80.6 percent from the foul stripe (on over nine attempts per game).

As if that wasn’t enough to earn the young Slovenian his first bid to the All-Star Game, his massive popularity globally has already made him one of the league’s most marketable stars. The first returns on fan All-Star voting bear that out:

Leaders in fan voting for first return of NBA All-Star voting: Dallas' Luka Dončić and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 2, 2020

So… yeah, there’s no doubt Doncic will be an All-Star in 2019-20, an honor that will likely become an annual occurrence for the burgeoning superstar.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

NBA MVP Race: Nikola Jokic enters the picture

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. JOEL EMBIID, PHILADELPHIA

STATS: 23.7 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 BPG, 47.7 FG%

The past week-plus has been the perfect encapsulation of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2019-20 season. The team was able to start off that stretch with a massive win on Christmas against the Milwaukee Bucks, on a night where Joel Embiid dropped 31 points and 11 rebounds against one of the league’s title favorites, but followed that up by losing their next three games, two on the road by one point apiece, and then a blowout at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in a game Embiid was forced to sit due to injury. Prior to going down, Embiid was averaging 30 points and 11 boards over a three-game stretch, so Philadelphia has to hope their star center doesn’t miss much time with what’s being described as left knee soreness.

9. NIKOLA JOKIC, DENVER

STATS: 18.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 50.1 FG%

There’s no question Nikola Jokic got off to a frighteningly slow start to his 2019-20 campaign, but recently, the stud Serbian center has started to resemble his old self again, which is great news for the Denver Nuggets and bad news for teams in the Western Conference below the two-L.A.-team tier. Over the past three weeks (a 14-game span), Jokic has averaged 22.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game on fiery shooting splits of 55.9/41.4/84.6.

8. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND

STATS: 26.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.6 APG, 3.4 3PTM, 43.8 FG%

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has been performing at an elite level this season, and yet, his team can’t seem to garner even the slightest amount of momentum in 2019-20. Portland – losers of five straight, including an embarrassing 117-93 loss to the New York Knicks – are 14-21 on the season and have the league’s 12th-worst net rating at -2.0, which puts them behind the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls this year. What has to be especially frustrating for Lillard is the fact that with him on the floor, the Blazers are 11.6 points per 100 possessions better than when he’s on the bench, meaning the team gets absolutely destroyed in the minutes they’re without their All-NBA-caliber floor general. Luckily for Lillard and Co., however, the bottom of the Western Conference playoff race is a mess right now, so they’re still merely 1.5 games out of the eighth seed. They can thank Lillard for that.

7. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI

STATS: 20.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 6.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 43.0 FG%

Even though he’s shooting at pretty horrific rates, primarily from three where he’s sinking just 27.6 percent of his looks, Jimmy Butler still ranks 10th in VORP this season, as well as 10th in BPM, ninth in WS/48 and 12th in PER, proving what an immense impact he’s having for the Miami Heat. It’s scary to think about what would happen to those marks if Butler is able to relocate his formerly semi-respectable outside stroke, too. Regardless, Butler is a lock to regain All-Star status this season after he missed the festivities last year, as his Heat boast an impressive (and unexpected) 24-9 record through 33 contests.

6. KAWHI LEONARD, LA CLIPPERS

STATS: 25.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 45.2 FG%

As far as statement games go, no one on this list had a more important one over the past week than Kawhi Leonard on Christmas. Facing off with the Los Angeles Lakers and their two own MVP candidates, Leonard was spectacular, dropping 35 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five triples while shooting 11-for-19 from the floor. Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers came out on top against the Lakers for the second time this season that night by a final score of 111-106, raising questions about what a series would look like between these two super talented teams. One thing is for sure, though: Leonard has been playing at a scary level over the past month and a half.

5. LEBRON JAMES, LA LAKERS

STATS: 25.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 10.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 48.7 FG%

Since sustaining the groin injury in mid-December, LeBron James’ shooting marks have plummeted, as the four-time league MVP is shooting 39.8 percent from the floor and 24.2 percent from three in those five contests. Regardless, James is still playing insanely well on the year as a whole, especially when you consider the fact that he just turned 35. James leads the league in nightly assists this year, and as he’s taken a bit of a backseat to his new super teammate, he’s posting a career-best 51.2 percent assist rate. Leave it to LeBron to set career marks in his 17th season.

4. ANTHONY DAVIS, LA LAKERS

STATS: 27.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.5 BPG, 50 FG%

That aforementioned super teammate of LeBron’s we referenced, of course, is Anthony Davis, who, for the first time in his career, gets to play for a legit title contender. And with the way Davis is playing on a team expected to compete for a championship, it’s a shame we haven’t gotten to see this version of the superstar power forward sooner. Davis is shooting more than eight free throws nightly and sinking them at an 85.3 percent rate, which is insane for a big man, and just part of what makes him such an efficient/special scorer. Couple that with his otherworldly defense and it’s easy to see why many thought Davis could one day become a perennial MVP candidate. That day seems to have arrived.

3. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS

STATS: 29.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 47.1 FG%

In the four games he’s played since returning from an ugly ankle injury, Luka Doncic is putting up 27.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game, so it looks like the Dallas Mavericks didn’t rush their burgeoning superstar back too quickly. On the year, the 20-year-old ranks third league-wide in scoring, 22nd in rebounds and third in assists, an absolutely absurd feat for someone in just their sophomore campaign. It hasn’t taken long for Doncic to become one of the most entertaining players in the league, thanks to his audacious step-back jumpers and wonderful playmaking prowess.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON

STATS: 38.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 46.1 FG%

As the decade came to a close this week, it was fun to look back at some of the absurd numbers James Harden put up in the 2010s. Two immediately stand out: The Beard ranks second in wins over the last 10 years, trailing just LeBron, with 502, and he leads the entire league in points scored over the decade with 19,578. People may complain about his style of play, but there’s no doubt Harden is one of the most special talents the NBA has ever seen. Also noteworthy: Harden is shooting 45.3 percent from three over the past 13 games and shooting just 8.4 free throws nightly in that stretch, so it looks like his game continues to evolve, which is downright scary for opponents.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE

STATS: 30.3 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 55.5 FG%

The no-brainer MVP favorite at this point in the season is still Giannis Antetokounmpo. Harden’s individual numbers (at least scoring-wise) might be more impressive, but Antetokounmpo is also one of the most impactful defenders in the league while averaging over 30 points per game – a ridiculous combination for a single player to possess. Antetokounmpo is even becoming a respectable outside threat, hitting over a third (33.1 percent) of his outside looks on the year. But by far the most impressive aspect of the Greek Freak’s campaign so far is the level at which he has the Milwaukee Bucks performing, who are 31-5 and have by far the league’s best net rating at +12.5. The next highest team in that stat, the Boston Celtics, are at +7.8, which goes to show Milwaukee’s level of dominance on the year.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

NBA MVP Race: Giannis holding steady, LeBron slipping

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, MINNESOTA

STATS: 26.5 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.3 BPG, 41.8 3PT%

A big man who can do everything at an elite level, Karl-Anthony Towns has made a strong case to be considered the league’s top big man this year. Prior to missing the Minnesota Timberwolves’ last three games with a knee injury, Towns was on a nasty run, averaging 28.4 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting a ridiculous 55.2 percent from the floor over his final five outings. The Timberwolves need to be cautious with their big man who is on the mend, but at the same time, they can’t afford to have him out much longer, not with Minnesota free-falling down the Western Conference playoff standings, where the team currently ranks 13th.

9. JOEL EMBIID, PHILADELPHIA

STATS: 23.1 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.4 BPG, 46.4 FG%

In comparison to the level he was at in previous years, there’s no question Joel Embiid has been a bit disappointing this season. The Philadelphia 76ers, losers in three of their last four games, have been playing scared recently, according to their All-Star center:

“And, after getting blown out by the Luka Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks 117-98 at Wells Fargo Center on Friday night, Embiid had a simple explanation for what has gone wrong: The Sixers are ‘playing scared.’ ‘I feel like, especially tonight, we were playing scared,’ Embiid said. ‘Basketball is easy. You just shoot it, pass it, move it. If you don’t got a shot just pass it. But tonight, like I said, we didn’t make shots, and defensively we were pretty bad.'”

Regardless, it’s tough to blame Embiid for Philadelphia’s recent skid considering he’s averaging 25.3 points, 16.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over his last three games.

8. KAWHI LEONARD, LA CLIPPERS

STATS: 25.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 46.1 FG%

Despite load management still very much being a thing for Kawhi Leonard, there’s no doubting his MVP-caliber play this season, especially recently, when his form has gotten even better. After a slow start shooting the ball in 2019-20, Leonard is knocking down a very healthy 42.4 percent of his three-point looks over his last 14 games. During that stretch, the reigning Finals MVP has led the Los Angeles Clippers to an 11-3 record, and has them looking every bit of the title contenders they were hyped up as over the offseason.

7. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND

STATS: 26.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 44.8 FG%

The Portland Trail Blazers are far from an elite team this season, sitting at 14-16 and No. 8 in the West through 30 games, but it’s impossible to fault their star point guard Damian Lillard for that. Lillard ranks eighth in the league this year in nightly scoring while placing seventh in assists per game. What’s more, Lillard’s pristine form has also helped the Blazers turn things around recently, with Portland coming out victorious in their last four games, including an important road victory against the Phoenix Suns, a team the Blazers are battling for a playoff spot this year.

6. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI

STATS: 20.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.1 SPG, 43.4 FG%

Sitting No. 3 in the East with a 21-8 record, the Miami Heat have surprised a lot of people with their strong play this season. A lot of that is thanks to Jimmy Butler, the team’s prized offseason addition. Butler is the only player in 2019-20 averaging at least 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals per contest this year, and one of just 10 players dating back to 1973-74 to put up that stat line over the course of a season, joining the likes of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson on the illustrious list. Perhaps the biggest reason for Miami’s success this year has been the team’s extremely unselfish nature, which they get from their best player, Butler, who recently said he’d shoot zero times in a game if it meant a guaranteed win.

5. LEBRON JAMES, LA LAKERS

STATS: 25.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 10.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 49.6 FG%

Over the last two games he suited up in, LeBron James averaged 20.5 points on 41 percent shooting – 23.1 percent from beyond the arc – while boasting a minus-23 plus/minus. The Los Angeles Lakers – predictably, considering how poorly their most important player performed – dropped both contests, and then lost a third in a row on Sunday when James sat out due to a variety of injuries. All that just goes to show how despite being nearly 35, LeBron remains the Lakers’ most impactful player, even if his numbers aren’t as ridiculous as Anthony Davis‘ this season. Los Angeles would be wise to act cautiously with James’ string of ailments, because without him, they could be in trouble.

4. ANTHONY DAVIS, LA LAKERS

STATS: 27.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.7 BPG, 49.9 FG%

In James absence on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, Davis did his best to keep the Lakers afloat, scoring 32 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four blocks on 56.5 percent shooting. On the season, Davis ranks seventh league-wide in nightly scoring while being tied in first in blocks with Hassan Whiteside. He’s also shooting the sixth-most free throws per game and making them at an 85.5 percent rate, which is absolutely ridiculous for a big man, and part of what makes Davis such an efficient scorer despite being a porous three-point shooter (29.8 percent).

3. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS

STATS: 29.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 48.1 FG%

Dallas Mavericks blossoming superstar Luka Doncic has missed the team’s last four games with an ankle injury (really, he’s been out for five games, since he played just over a minute against Miami before getting hurt), and though Dallas has performed admirably without him, going 2-2 in that stretch, it’s become clear they miss their ultra-productive forward, particularly in late games, when their offense began to stagnate against good teams. Doncic is apparently making a quick recovery, as Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle recently said the Slovenian ball-handler could return just after Christmas.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON

STATS: 38.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.9 SPG, 44.9 FG%

The league’s leading scorer for the third year in a row, James Harden has been spectacular in 2019-20, to the point he’s making the extraordinary look ordinary. Harden is averaging 41.8 points per game over his last six outings, including a 55-point, a 54-point and a 47-point performance in that stretch. Harden recently came into sole possession of fourth place on the list of most 40-plus-point games in league history, passing Elgin Baylor and trailing just Wilt Chamberlain, Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Pretty decent company there for Harden. The bearded superstar also had a statement game last week, scoring 28 points at Los Angeles against the Clippers, in what was a hugely impressive five-point win for the Houston Rockets.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE

STATS: 31.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 56.6 FG%

Just when we thought Giannis Antetokounmpo had reached his ceiling during his 2018-19 MVP campaign, he managed to set a new, even higher bar for himself thus far this year. The Greek Freak is still doing absolutely everything during his time on the floor, including running the offense, rebounding and defending at elite levels, now, he’s even become a respectable outside shooter, making him a complete nightmare to defend. Antetokounmpo is making 34.2 percent of his threes last season, including a crazy 5-for-8 performance against the Lakers last Thursday, when L.A. tried to defend him with Davis instead of a more natural wing defender. After one of those outside bombs, which helped propel the Milwaukee Bucks to a 111-104 victory over LeBron and the Lakers, Antetokounmpo turned to his bench and placed an invisible crown on his head, as if to say he’s the king now. And with the way he’s playing this season, it’s hard to argue against that.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

NBA MVP Race: Kawhi Leonard re-emerges

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. This list highlights stars who are in the mix for the 2019-20 MVP award due to their impressive play.

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. KAWHI LEONARD, LA CLIPPERS

STATS: 25.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 45.0 FG%

A 42-point, 11-rebound performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves was enough to vault Kawhi Leonard back into the Top 10 of our MVP rankings for the first time in a few weeks, and served as a reminder of how dominant the 2019 Finals MVP can be when he gets going. This season has been a bit of a slog for Leonard, as his career-low 49.4 effective field goal percentage would attest to, but the Los Angeles Clippers’ load management plan with him resembles that of the Toronto Raptors last year, and should help Leonard look fresh by the time the playoffs roll around. Of course, the Clippers hope their strategy pays off like Toronto’s did in 2018-19.

9. KEMBA WALKER, BOSTON

STATS: 23.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 3.8 3PG, 40.7 3PT%

Kemba Walker has arguably been an upgrade over the departed Kyrie Irving for the Boston Celtics, and is well on his way to earning All-Star honors for the fourth year running thanks to his exquisite level of play this year. Walker is shooting a career-high 40.7 percent from three in 2019-20, and is posting career-best marks in multiple advanced metrics, including Box Plus/Minus and Win Shares Per 48 Minutes. Walker has helped push the Celtics to a 17-7 record and the East’s No. 4 seed through 24 games.

8. JOEL EMBIID, PHILADELPHIA

STATS: 22.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.3 BPG, 46.1 FG%

Considering the standard the big man set over the past few seasons, Joel Embiid’s play this year has been a bit disappointing… and Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal were sure to let him know that during a segment on TNT last Tuesday. How did Embiid respond? By having his best game of the season on Thursday, against a very good Celtics team, no less, exploding for 38 points, 13 rebounds and six assists on 12-of-21 shooting. Head coach Brett Brown joked after the game that he was considering hiring Barkley and Shaq as motivational coaches. Maybe not the worst idea.

7. PASCAL SIAKAM, TORONTO

STATS: 24.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 45.4 FG%

After a hot start from the three-point line this season (39.3 percent from deep over his first 17 games), Pascal Siakam has gone cold over the past eight outings, shooting just 31.1 percent from the outside during that stretch. That cold spell has coincided with the Raptors’ worst stretch of the season, with Toronto going just 4-4 over their last eight, and that’s probably not a coincidence. The Raptors will need Siakam to find his outside stroke again if they want to get back to their elite early-season form.

6. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI

STATS: 21.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.1 SPG, 42.9 FG%

The league leader in nightly steals, Jimmy Butler’s addition to the Miami Heat has transformed the team from a mediocre mess to the league’s No. 7 squad in net rating. Miami is probably still a piece or two away from being legitimate title contenders, but with Butler as the centerpiece, they’ve become one of the more entertaining, and tough to beat, teams around the Association this year. Butler averaged 23.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists over three games last week.

5. ANTHONY DAVIS, LA LAKERS

STATS: 27.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.6 BPG, 49.9 FG%

A frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year who also happens to be averaging over 27 points, Anthony Davis has been an absolute force on both ends of the floor this season. Davis is 18th in nightly steals this year and second in blocks while his 27.4-point-per-game average is good for seventh in the league. For a big man to be able to score down low with such ease, have a respectable jumper, draw a lot of fouls and make them at over an 85 percent rate is legitimately unfair. If the Los Angeles Lakers do win a title this year, Davis could be the difference-maker.

4. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS

STATS: 29.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 48.1 FG%

Even with an injury-related two-minute performance on Saturday bringing down his averages, Luka Doncic still ranks third league-wide in nightly points, 18th in rebounds and third in assists, and he’s done it all as a 20-year-old. The timing of Doncic’s injury is particularly brutal because it seemed like the Slovenian prodigy was about to take off, as his final game prior to getting hurt was a 41/12/11 explosion against the Detroit Pistons. If we can take solace in anything, it’s that Doncic should only miss around two weeks of action with the ankle sprain, which is a relief considering how ugly the injury looked.

3. LEBRON JAMES, LA LAKERS

STATS: 26.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 50.2 FG%

They say Father Time is undefeated, but LeBron James is doing his best to prove that old saying wrong. Turning 35 years old in a few weeks, James is leading the league in assists while pouring in over 26 points nightly and snatching over seven boards per contest, and making over half of his field-goal attempts. LeBron’s level of play is so ridiculous, it truly makes you wonder how he does it, when he’s one of just three players left from his draft class, and the other two, Carmelo Anthony and Kyle Korver, are clearly on the tail end of their respective careers.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON

STATS: 39.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 7.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 36.1 3PT%

You know James Harden is on another level with his scoring when he can drop 55 points one night, follow that up with 54 points in his next outing, and the NBA world sort of just keeps spinning without talking about it as much as it deserved to be discussed. In total, Harden averaged 43.8 points over four games last week, to go with 8.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 48.2 percent from three. Oh, and he did that while shooting fewer than seven free throws nightly, so, in this case, people can’t complain about the aesthetics of his performances. After a slow start to the year with his three-point shooting, Harden is making over 39 percent of his triples over the last month, an impressive mark considering the difficulty of his usual shot attempt.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE

STATS: 31.0 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 56.3 FG%

Like Happy Gilmore learning how to putt, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s improved three-point stroke this season has somehow made the Greek superstar even more effective, which is scary considering he’s coming off an MVP campaign as is. Antekounmpo has 43 made triples this year. That’s as many as sharpshooting teammate Khris Middleton, and more than noted shooters like Jamal Murray and Seth Curry. Because of his improved shooting, according to Box Plus/Minus and Win Shares Per 48 Minutes, Antetokounmpo has been even better this season than he was last. If he’s able to keep this up, there’s little doubt the 25-year-old will be a frontrunner to take home his second consecutive MVP award at year’s end.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

NBA MVP Race: Jimmy Butler surges into Top 6

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

STATS: 25.8 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 BPG, 42.2 3PT%

One of the most productive players in basketball, Karl-Anthony Towns is putting up insane numbers for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, ranking 10th in points per game, ninth in rebounds per game and ninth in three-point percentage (minimum: 100 attempts) on the year. The advanced stats love Towns’ prowess as a scorer, as evidenced by Synergy Sports ranking the Wolves big as an excellent producer in five separate play-types: as a spot-up shooter, on put-backs, in isolation, coming off screens and as a cutter. Towns would rank higher on this list if his team hadn’t just lost four games in a row by a combined 44 points. Minnesota needs to get their star center some help.

9. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

STATS: 26.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 44.3 FG%

Another star player putting up big numbers for a losing team, Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers have had a tough time getting on track this season, sitting at 9-15 through 24 games. It’s impossible to fault Lillard for that, however, considering how productive he’s been on the year. This season, the Blazers are 12.9 points per 100 possessions better with Lillard on the floor, proving how valuable he’s been to the team. The problem is, Portland completely falls apart during stints with Lillard on the pine, and that’s something that could cost the Blazers a shot at the playoffs. We’ll see if that affects the star floor general’s future with the team, though Lillard has stated multiple times how much he loves it in Portland.

8. KEMBA WALKER, BOSTON CELTICS

STATS: 21.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 39.5 3PT%

The Boston Celtics are excelling as a team, so it’s tough to pick just one of their players to honor in these rankings, but when forced to choose, Kemba Walker was the clear choice. Walker has acclimated wonderfully to life on a winning team, putting up impressive numbers for Boston while proving to be a fantastic teammate, which could not be said about the All-Star point guard he replaced over the offseason. The Celtics only played twice last week, but they were both matchups against top playoff teams in their respective conferences, the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. Boston battered both opponents by a combined 32 points with Walker leading the way, averaging 23.5 points and 5.0 assists on fiery 51.5/47.4/100.0 shooting splits.

7. PASCAL SIAKAM, TORONTO RAPTORS

STATS: 24.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.3 3PG, 46.0 FG%

Prior to last week, the Toronto Raptors hadn’t lost back-to-back games all season long. Now, they’re sitting on a three-game losing streak, and it happens to coincide with a slump from Pascal Siakam. Toronto’s burgeoning star swingman averaged 18.3 points over three games last week, shooting 38.9 percent from the floor and a paltry 14.3 percent from three-point range. Regardless, after losing Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors are still exceeding expectations this year with a 15-7 record and a Top-5 league-wide ranking in net rating, and Siakam has been unquestionably the reason why, which explains why we still rank him favorably for MVP.

6. JIMMY BUTLER, MIAMI HEAT

STATS: 20.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 43.2 FG%

After not making the Top 10 of our rankings last week, Heat forward Jimmy Butler surges into the Top 6 this time around thanks to an insane four-game stretch in which Miami went 3-1 and Butler averaged 27.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.3 steals on 48.4/41.7/77.6 shooting splits. Butler earned Player of the Week honors in the East on Monday thanks to that impressive run. Despite shooting poorly on the season as a whole (43.2 FG%, 30.3 3PT%), Butler still ranks Top 7 in advanced metrics Value Over Replacement Player, Box Plus/Minus, Win Shares and Win Shares Per 48, which speaks to how incredibly valuable he’s been on both ends of the floor. Butler is one of just five players putting up a 20/6/6 stat line this season, and has Miami sitting preetty with a 17-6 and third in the Eastern Conference.

5. ANTHONY DAVIS, LOS ANGELES LAKERS

STATS: 27.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.7 BPG, 50.7 FG%

The reigning Player of the Week out of the West, Anthony Davis capped an impressive four-game week with a 50-point (20-of-29 shooting), 4-steal performance for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis has been spectacular all season long, making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year while still ranking seventh in the league in scoring. In years past, there’s been a lot of preseason buzz about Davis turning the corner and becoming the best player in the league, and though that hasn’t happened quite yet, the 2019-20 version of Davis is the closest we’ve come to seeing it, with the Kentucky product playing the role of a legitimate two-way monster who is among the best scorers and fiercest rim-protectors in the league

4. LEBRON JAMES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS

STATS: 25.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 50.1 FG%

Davis’ super teammate, LeBron James is also performing at an MVP level, which would explain why the Lakers are widely considered either the best, or second best, team in the league right now. The most impressive part of LeBron’s game is that although he looks like he’s playing in cruise control for the most part, he’s still producing at a ridiculous pace; James’ nonchalant nature of dominance has been downright scary in 2019-20. Per Synergy, the four-time MVP ranks as an excellent scorer out of the post, in spot-up situations, coming off screens and on put-backs. James turns 35 in a few weeks, and he’s still this good. Crazy.

3. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON ROCKETS

STATS: 38.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.4 APG, 2.0 SPG, 43.1 FG%

Leading the league in scoring and nightly minutes played, James Harden is having yet another spectacular season for the Houston Rockets. While dropping a 50-spot against the San Antonio Spurs last Tuesday, Harden had a dunk called no-good by officials despite clearly going in, which you could argue cost Houston the game since the contest wound up going to double-overtime before San Antonio prevailed by two points. At the same time, you could also make the case that Harden’s (and Russell Westbrook’s) porous shooting that night were what ended up costing the Rockets the game. In fact, one troubling recent trend regarding the bearded superstar has been his shooting in general. Harden has made just 10 of his last 42 three-point attempts, good for a 23.8 three-point percentage, although he’s making up for it by averaging 16 free throws over his last three games while converting 93.8 percent.

2. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS MAVERICKS

STATS: 30.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 9.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 47.6 FG%

At all of 20 years old, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic has been one of the very best players in all of basketball this season, putting up otherworldly numbers on a nightly basis while leading Dallas to a 16-7 record and the league’s third-best net rating (+9.4). In Doncic’s rookie season, the Mavs’ net rating was No. 21 league-wide (-1.5) and the year prior to the Slovenian star’s arrival, it was No. 22 in the NBA (-2.9), which goes to show the absurd trajectory both Doncic and Dallas as a whole are on. The one slight criticism that can be made about Doncic recently is that he’s getting too emphatic with his in-game officiating complaints. That’s not to say referees can’t be criticized, but we don’t need another Chris Paul-type of star who becomes hard to watch due to constant complaining. Thankfully, Doncic admitted he’s been too animated with the officials, and that he’s going to try and tone it down moving forward. Good. We would also be remiss not to mention that Doncic recently broke Michael Jordan’s record of most consecutive 20/5/5 games with 19 straight such games.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE BUCKS

STATS: 30.8 PPG, 13.1 PPG, 5.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 56.4 FG%

All you need to do is read the above stats recap to understand why we ranked Giannis Antetokounmpo at No. 1 of our MVP rankings for the second week running. If Antetokounmpo maintains the pace he’s on, he’ll become just the third player in league history to post a 30/13/5 stat line for an entire season, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor on the illustrious list. Giannis’ impact is far from empty, too, as the Milwaukee Bucks are 20-3 and have the NBA’s No. 1 net rating at +12.9. The league’s second-best team in net rating, the Lakers, are just at a +9.4. As far as Antetokounmpo’s recent form is concerned, the Greek Freak had a marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers and their super wing duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on Friday. Antetokounmpo responded by scoring 27 points, securing 11 rebounds and holding Leonard to 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Outrageous averages and elite team success give Giannis the nod for No. 1 in our rankings.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

NBA MVP Race: Giannis going for the repeat

Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

10. JOEL EMBIID, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

STATS: 22.4 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.2 3PG, 45.4 FG%

Joel Embiid creeps into our MVP rankings for the first time, as he has led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 15-6 record, and four straight victories. It’s interesting that this is finally the week Embiid has broken into our weekly ranking series, considering the fact that last Monday, he started the week off with the worst game of his career, going scoreless against the Toronto Raptors on 0-for-11 shooting. However, in the three games after that horrific performance, Embiid has averaged 30.7 points, 14.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while attempting nearly 15 free throws per contest. Perhaps his horrid showing against Toronto was the best thing that could have happened for Embiid/Philadelphia, since it has unlocked a new level of aggression from the supremely talented center. If he can maintain that level of play, he’ll continue to creep up our rankings as the season progresses, as well as help the Sixers win a whole lot of games.

9. KEMBA WALKER, BOSTON CELTICS

STATS: 21.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 3.4 3PG, 38.6 3PT%

After suffering a scary next injury last weekend, Kemba Walker bounced back wonderfully this week, dropping 39 points against the Brooklyn Nets in his first game back on Wednesday, and averaging 24.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists in the three outings since his return. Walker has helped push Boston to a 14-5 record this season not just with his All-Star-level play, but by being such a positive locker-room presence in the stead of the now-departed Kyrie Irving. Walker’s leadership has been huge for the Celtics, and head coach Brad Stevens has taken notice:

"He's one of the best leaders I've been around. He brings the most out of the guys he's playing with." – #Celtics Brad Stevens when asked about Kemba Walker's leadership.

— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) December 1, 2019

Boston has two big games coming up this week, facing the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets, two teams near the top of their respective conferences, and with a couple of big performances, Walker could shoot his way up this ranking ahead of next week.

8. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

STATS: 27.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 3.3 3PG, 44.7 FG%

It appears that after a worryingly slow start, the Portland Trail Blazers have finally turned things around, and a lot of that has to do with the consistently awesome level of play they’re getting out of Damian Lillard. The 29-year-old is averaging career-highs in points, assists and free-throw percentage this season, and with the addition of a motivated Carmelo Anthony (who just won Player of the Week in the Western Conference, by the way), Lillard should be able to help lead Portland right back into the thick of the cutthroat playoff race out west. Lillard ranks seventh in Value Over Replacement Player, sixth in Win Shares and 10th in Player Efficiency Rating in 2019-20.

7. KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

STATS: 25.9 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.4 BPG, 3.8 3PG, 50.2 FG%

According to most advanced metrics, Karl-Anthony Towns has hovered around Top-5 player status this season, and just by looking at his raw averages, it’s easy to see why. Towns is distributing the basketball better than ever before this year (career-high 22.1 percent assist rate) while continuing to protect the rim and knock down threes at ridiculous paces (he’s launching nearly nine threes nightly and making them at a 42.1 percent clip, the ninth-most accurate mark in the league). Most importantly, Towns’ play has pushed the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 10-9 record, placing them 7th in the Western Conference playoff race. The Wolves will need Towns to maintain his level of form in order to reach the postseason with how loaded the West is, but considering how easy Towns is making it look, that shouldn’t be a problem for the big man.

6. PASCAL SIAKAM, TORONTO RAPTORS

STATS: 25.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.5 3PG, 47.0 FG%

Raptors swingman Pascal Siakam is playing at such an insane level that there’s actual talk out there that he might deserve to take home Most Improved Player honors for the second year in a row. Siakam is shooting 6.5 threes per game (up from his previous career-best of 2.7) and knocking them down at the most accurate rate of his career, a healthy 39 percent. The 25-year-old is one of the most impactful two-way wings in basketball, capable of doing a multitude of things, including make plays for others, throw it down in transition and knock down open threes, all while being a multi-positional defender on the other end of the floor. Siakam has been so good that even without team leader Kyle Lowry around due to injury for the last few weeks, he still has Toronto, who have won seven games in a row, absolutely humming. The trajectory Siakam is presently on is downright scary.

5. ANTHONY DAVIS, LOS ANGELES LAKERS

STATS: 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 47.9 FG%

The No. 2 option on the best team in the league (by record, at least), Anthony Davis is performing at a ridiculous level considering it’s his first time suiting up for a team with championship expectations. Davis ranks eighth league-wide in nightly scoring and is tied in first in blocks per game, which just goes to show how much of an impact he makes on both ends of the floor on a nightly basis. The Los Angeles Lakers will want him to improve his three-point shooting a bit (34.4 percent for the year), but other than that, it’s been smooth sailing for Davis, who set the record last week for highest scoring performance in a player’s first game against their former team, when he dropped 41 on the New Orleans Pelicans.

4. LEBRON JAMES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS

STATS: 25.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 10.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 50.1 FG%

Davis’ super teammate, LeBron James, also had a great week, averaging 27.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 11.0 assists over four games. James currently leads the league in nightly assists while ranking 11th in points per game. It’s crazy to see how productive he remains despite being in Year-16, not just statistically, but with his ability to much such a strong impact on winning. This upcoming week will be a big one for LeBron and Co., as, after a relatively soft schedule in November, they’re set to face the Nuggets, Jazz, Blazers and Timberwolves, giving them the chance to silence those who believe their 17-3 record is mostly a byproduct of a weak strength of schedule.

3. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS MAVERICKS

STATS: 30.6 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 9.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 48.3 FG%

Posting one of the greatest statistical second-year campaigns of all time, Luka Doncic has absolutely exploded as a sophomore. Even Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki admitted to being surprised by how quickly Doncic has acclimated to the NBA game, and with good reason; 20-year-olds shouldn’t be as productive as Doncic has been. Doncic currently ranks third in the league in scoring, 17th in rebounds and second in assists while guiding (carrying, really), the Mavericks to a 13-6 record, including a huge road win against the Lakers on Sunday. The contest featured a near Doncic triple-double and a step-back three over LeBron that will be featured in Doncic’s 2019-20 highlight tape for eternity.

Luka Doncic hits a stepback three in Lebron's face, so smooth he almost makes those jerseys look good pic.twitter.com/BiXakyvYCd

— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) December 1, 2019

If Doncic keeps up this level of play, he’ll become the fifth-youngest player in league history to receive MVP votes. Not bad.

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON ROCKETS

STATS: 38.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 7.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 44.6 FG%

James Harden’s scoring has been so otherworldly that he dropped 60 points on Saturday and didn’t even win Player of the Week for the Western Conference. His game may not be the prettiest (he currently has the second-highest nightly free-throw attempt average… ever), but there’s no doubt he’s a maestro when it comes to putting the ball in the hoop. The only thing preventing Harden from ranking higher on this list is the fact that the Houston Rockets have a worse record and a lower net rating than those of the No. 1 ranked player’s team. Even so, barring injury or an unpredictable drop in form, Harden will be one of the top finalists for MVP come the end of the season.

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE BUCKS

STATS: 30.9 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 56.0 FG%

A destructive force on both ends of the floor, Giannis Antetokounmpo is an early frontrunner to win his second MVP trophy in a row. Over four games last week, the Greek Freak averaged 34.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. The Milwaukee Bucks won all four games by a total of 63 points. And that’s why we rank Giannis No. 1 in this week’s ranking: Not only is he putting up insane numbers while defending at an extremely high level – he’s also the best player on the best team in the league. Milwaukee is tied with L.A. in record at 17-3, but is first in net rating by a long shot at +10.3. The next closest team in net rating are the Raptors, who are at +8.8. What’s more, the Bucks are 10.7 points per 100 possessions better with Antetokounmpo on the floor, proving his importance to the squad. Giannis is a force of nature, and if he keeps this up, he’ll be adding a second MVP trophy to his mantle.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.