NBA MVP Rankings - 23 Nov

Now that the season is a little more than a month old, I figured it was time to take a look at which players have been performing best up to this point, and which ones have been most important to their teams' success. There are 4-5 players who have really stood out at the beginning of the season, and picking the most valuable among them is difficult, but leading the best team in the league is always a big help. Here are my current MVP rankings:

Most Valuable Player

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo - MIL - 30.1 P, 14.1 R, 6.6 A, 1.5 S, 1.4 B, .566 FG, .606 FT

The defending MVP always has a tough job trying to repeat as the winner, but the Greek Freak is posting new career highs in points, rebounds, and assists again this year, just as he did last year, and his Bucks have the best record in the East and are currently ranked as the best team in the league by my rankings. At this point he is the MVP, but the competition will be very tough this year.


2. James Harden - HOU - 38.3 P, 5.9 R, 7.8 A, 1.7 S, .434 FG, .352 3P, .866 FT

It has been over 50 years since any player has averaged this many points over a full season, and the only 2 players to top Harden's current average are Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain, who did it 3 times. The Rockets had a bit of a slow start to the season, but they have been on fire lately, and it's hard to imagine him not winning the MVP if he maintains his current scoring pace while keeping Houston near the top of the West.


3. Luka Doncic - DAL - 29.9 P, 10.4 R, 9.7 A, 1.3 S, .493 FG, .346 3P, .821 FT

There is a good chance that this will be the greatest season ever for a player age 20 or younger, and no one this young has ever averaged this many points or assists, and the only youngsters to ever average more rebounds were big men. Dallas has also been hot lately, and if they can maintain it, Doncic should be in the MVP conversation all year, and could be the youngest ever to win the award.


4. LeBron James - LAL - 24.9 P, 7.7 R, 11.3 A, 1.3 S, .486 FG, .346 3P, .708 FT

You can't have an MVP ranking without LeBron, and even though James is averaging fewer points than he has since he was a rookie, that can be explained by his switch to point guard this year, where he is now leading the league in assists for the best team in the West. It will probably be tough for him to win the award with the historic seasons happening ahead of him, but he belongs on this list.


5. Anthony Davis - LAL - 25.8 P, 9.1 R, 3.6 A, 1.4 S, 2.9 B, .481 FG, .341 3P, .881 FT

It isn't his best statistical season, but he is leading the league in blocked shots, and he is the leading scorer for the best team in the West as well. As long as the Lakers stay at the top of the West, he will be in consideration, but having a superstar teammate makes it unlikely that the voters will be able to pick one Laker as more valuable than the other.


6. Bradley Beal - WAS - 30.3 P, 4.7 R, 7.1 A, 1.0 S, .473 FG, .351 3P, .824 FT

The Wizards were bad last year, and not much more was expected of them this year, but at this point they are looking like a potential playoff team, and the biggest reason is Beal, who has taken over as the leader of the team with John Wall out again this year.


7. Kawhi Leonard - LAC - 25.6 P, 8.4 R, 5.5 A, 2.3 S, 1.0 B, .441 FG, .824 FT

Kawhi has already sat out 5 times this season, which makes it more difficult to win the MVP, because you can't help your team when you're not on the court, especially considering their 2-3 record when he is out, but he has been great when he plays, and with Paul George back, the Clippers are likely to keep climbing in the standings, which can only help his MVP chances.


8. Lou Williams - LAC - 22.7 P, 3.6 R, 5.9 A, .429 FG, .355 3P, .870 FT

It's pretty unusual for a Sixth Man to be in contention for MVP, but the 3-time best bench player is having his best season yet, with career highs in scoring, rebounds, and assists, and played a major role in keeping the Clippers afloat while Paul George recovered from his injury.


9. Karl-Anthony Towns - MIN - 26.0 P, 12.1 R, 3.6 A, 1.3 S, 1.5 B, .511 FG, .443 3P, .760 FT

Towns continues to be a superstar playing for a team that always seems to be good enough to make the playoffs but rarely does. Right now they are on the outside looking in, so if he wants a chance to move up in these rankings, he has to get the Wolves into the upper tier of the West.


10. Donovan Mitchell - UTA - 25.2 P, 5.6 R, 3.9 A, 1.3 S, .453 FG, .378 3P, .812 FT

Mitchell continues to improve in his third season in the league, and his Jazz are hovering in the middle of the West playoff race, but he needs to get them closer to the top of the West to get any real consideration, since the all-around stats of those above his are so much better. Still, I believe this is the first time a Jazz player has been on this list since Boozer left town.


Honorable Mention: Pascal Siakim - TOR, Jimmy Butler - MIA, Damian Lillard - POR, DeMar DeRozan - SAS, Devin Booker - PHX