Three weeks ago I posted my initial award rankings for the NBA season, based on how well each player has performed statistically compared to the expectation for their position, with an adjustment for how it impacts team performance for the MVP candidates. The overall leader for each award has not changed, but there is movement within the top 3 for each award. Here are my current rankings, with previous rank in parentheses:
Most Valuable Player
1 (1) James Harden - HOU - 31.5 P, 5.1 R, 9.3 A, 1.9 S, .455 FG, .394 3P, .865 FT
His rebounds and assists have dipped a little this year, but his scoring has increased again, currently #1 in the league, and the Rockets have a 12-game winning streak and the league's best record.
2 (4) Kevin Durant - GSW - 26.1 P, 7.0 R, 5.3 A, 2.1 B, .526 FG, .407 3P, .877 FT
Durant has stepped up in Curry's absence, extending the Warriors win streak to 8 by reaching 35 points in 3 of the last 4 games, and he is also averaging a career high in blocks.
3 (2) LeBron James - CLE - 28.1 P, 8.3 R, 9.1 A, 1.4 S, 1.1 B, .578 FG, .411 3P, .757 FT
He still seems to be getting better in his 15th season, with a career high in FG%, highest scoring average in 8 years, and could be 4th player ever to average 28-8-9 for a season, joining Robertson, Westbrook, and Harden.
4 (3) Stephen Curry - GSW - 26.3 P, 5.1 R, 6.6 A, 1.7 S, .473 FG, .381 3P, .933 FT
Missed the last few games with an ankle injury, but had 28 points and 8 assists per game in the four games before he went down, and he's shooting a near career-high from the line.
5 (6) Giannis Antetokounmpo - MIL - 29.9 P, 10.5 R, 4.5 A, 1.8 S, 1.6 B, .548 FG, .765 FT
Milwaukee is still right on the edge in the playoff hunt, but we all know why they'll make it if they do. Last year's Most Improved Player is still improving at an incredible rate.
6 (8) DeMar DeRozan - TOR - 24.0 P, 4.6 R, 5.0 A, 1.3 S, .488 FG, .807 FT
Toronto is #2 in the East, and a big part of that is DeRozan becoming more efficient, shooting his best percentage in 8 years and averaging a career high in assists rather than just scoring.
7 (NR) Victor Oladipo - IND - 24.4 P, 5.4 R, 4.1 A, 1.8 S, 1.0 B, .473 FG, .425 3P, .781 FT
Oladipo is on fire lately, with 5 games over 25 points this month, 3 above 30, and a 47-point explosion against the Nuggets last Sunday. This trade worked out great for him.
8 (9) Kyrie Irving - BOS - 24.3 P, 3.0 R, 4.9 A, 1.3 S, .494 FG, .393 3P, .884 FT
He is actually down slightly statistically from last season, but he is now the best player on his team, and that team is in first place in the East.
9 (10) Russell Westbrook - OKC - 22.7 P, 9.7 R, 10.0 A, 2.0 S, .384 FG, .314 3P, .700 FT
His shooting and scoring are down from his historic MVP season, but he could still average a triple double, and he is leading the league in assists thanks to his new teammates.
10 (5) Anthony Davis - NOP - 25.2 P, 10.6 R, 2.6 A, 1.1 S, 2.0 B, .569 FG, .797 FT
Davis has missed 4 games already this month, and the Pelicans haven't won 2 in a row since Thanksgiving, but he is still really good when he's on the court.
Honorable Mention: DeMarcus Cousins - NOP, Klay Thompson - GSW - Damian Lillard - POR
Rookie of the Year
1 (1) Ben Simmons - PHI - 17.3 P, 8.9 R, 7.8 A, 2.1 S, .506 FG, .559 FT
It's been a rough month for Simmons and the 76ers, with the team's only 2 wins coming when Simmons scores less than 10 points, but he has such a lead in the ROY race so far that he's still not in danger.
2 (2) Jayson Tatum - BOS - 13.6 P, 5.6 R, 1.3 A, .500 FG, .500 3P, .828 FT
The rookie may not be a huge scorer, but he is leading the league in 3-point percentage, hitting exactly half of his shots this season, both from inside and behind the line.
3 (NR) Donovan Mitchell - UTA - 17.8 P, 3.1 R, 3.5 A, 1.4 S, .417 FG, .366 3P, .850 FT
Mitchell is making a push to get in the ROY talk, with a 41-point game against New Orleans and a couple more 30-point games since, and he has taken the rookie scoring lead from Simmons in the process.
4 (3) John Collins - ATL - 11.3 P, 7.1 R, 1.0 A, 1.0 B, .597 FG, .740 FT
He's only played in 3 games since my last post, including yesterday's 2 points in 23 minutes, but he's hit 14 of 19 shots in those games.
5 (5) Kyle Kuzma - LAL - 16.3 P, 6.7 R, 1.5 A, .491 FG, .365 3P, .773 FT
Still the best rookie in LA this year, he has been very solid and steady, other than a stinker he put up at Philly.
Honorable Mention: Mike James - PHX, Lauri Markkanen - CHI
Sixth Man of the Year
1 (1) Tyreke Evans - MEM - 18.3 P, 4.9 R, 4.0 A, .479 FG, 418 3P, .777 FT
Evans has been starting for the past couple weeks, so he probably won't be on this list by next time, but he is still the best player in the league who has come off the bench in most of his games.
2 (3) Lou Williams - LAC - 20.1 P, 2.8 R, 4.8 A, .449 FG, .399 3P, .895 FT
The career bench player who won the award 3 years ago is averaging a career high in points, including 42 in a game he started against the Lakers a few weeks ago.
3 (5) Rudy Gay - SAS - 12.6 P, 5.7 R, 1.7 A, .490 FG, .790 FT
The Spurs won 4 in a row with Gay starting earlier this month, then lost the last 2 when he returned to the bench.
4 (2) Jordan Clarkson - LAL - 14.9 P, 2.9 R, 3.0 A, .480 FG, .357 3P, .779 FT
The best player who hasn't started a game this year, he has reached double digits in scoring in 10 of his past 11 games.
5 (4) Will Barton - DEN - 15.8 P, 5.3 R, 3.6 A, 1.2 S, .472 FG, .411 3P, .704 FT
He is having his best season as a pro, and scored 37 against Chicago a couple weeks ago.
Honorable Mention: Bobby Portis - CHI, JJ Barea - DAL, David West - GSW
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