NBA MVP Rankings - 27 Nov

We are almost a quarter of the way through the NBA season, so I'm finally ready to release my first MVP rankings of the season. These are based on how well each player is performing in each category compared to the league average, as well as how well their team is performing overall. I've also got my leaders for the Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man below, and changes in my all-time Top 100 player ranks so far this season:

Most Valuable Player

1. Stephen Curry - PG - GSW

28.4 Pts (#1), 5.8 Reb, 6.9 Ast (#11), 1.6 Stl (#15), 0.6 Blk, .461 FG%, .417 3P%, .940 FT% (#1)

2. Trae Young - PG - ATL

25.6 Pts (#8), 3.6 Reb, 9.2 Ast (#3), 0.9 Stl, 0.1 Blk, .465 FG%, .386 3P%, .900 FT% (#12)

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF - MIL

27.1 Pts (#3), 11.7 Reb (#5), 6.0 Ast (#18), 1.2 Stl, 1.8 Blk (#7), .520 FG% (#18), .284 3P%, .675 FT%

4. Kevin Durant - PF - BKN

28.1 Pts (#2), 7.6 Reb, 5.3 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 0.6 Blk, .556 FG% (#14), .398 3P%, .857 FT%

5. James Harden - PG - BKN

20.7 Pts, 7.6 Reb, 9.2 Ast (#2), 1.4 Stl, 0.7 Blk, .414 FG%, .378 3P%, .894 FT% (#16)

6. Nikola Jokic - C - DEN

26.4 Pts (#4), 13.6 Reb (#2), 6.4 Ast (#15), 1.2 Stl, 0.9 Blk, .593 FG% (#9), .410 3P%, .747 FT%

7. Chris Paul - PG - PHX

14.1 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 10.4 Ast (#1), 2.1 Stl (#4), 0.3 Blk, .472 FG%, .345 3P%, .855 FT%

8. LaMelo Ball - PG - CHA

19.4 Pts, 7.7 Reb, 7.8 Ast (#9), 1.9 Stl (#8), 0.4 Blk, .417 FG%, .380 3P%, .895 FT% (#14)

9. Damian Lillard - PG - POR

22.0 Pts (#19), 3.8 Reb, 7.9 Ast (#7), 0.7 Stl, 0.4 Blk, .399 FG%, .303 3P%, .909 FT% (#9)

10. Jimmy Butler - SF - MIA

23.9 Pts (#13), 5.9 Reb, 5.3 Ast, 1.9 Stl (#7), 0.3 Blk, .527 FG% (#16), .231 3P%, .850 FT%

Honorable Mention: Ja Morant - PG - MEM, Draymond Green - PF - GSW, DeMar DeRozan - SF - CHI, Rudy Gobert - C - UTA, Zach LaVine - SG - CHI

Rookie of the Year

1. Josh Giddey - SG - OKC

10.8 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 5.7 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 0.6 Blk, .403 FG%, .277 3P%, .654 FT%

2. Alperen Sengun - C - HOU

9.0 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 2.4 Ast, 1.2 Stl, 0.5 Blk, .481 FG%, .429 3P%, .667 FT%

3. Evan Mobley - PF - CLE

14.6 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.6 Blk, .494 FG%, .308 3P%, .771 FT%

4. Cade Cunningham - PG - DET

12.9 Pts, 6.2 Reb, 5.0 Ast, 1.4 Stl, 0.4 Blk, .332 FG%, .238 3P%, .867 FT%

5. Davion Mitchell - PG - SAC

8.9 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 3.4 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 0.2 Blk, .374 FG%, .273 3P%, .609 FT%

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Montrezl Harrell - C - WAS

16.9 Pts, 8.8 Reb, 2.2 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 0.7 Blk, .649 FG%, .167 3P%, .786 FT%

2. JaVale McGee - C - PHX

10.2 Pts, 7.1 Reb, 0.7 Ast, 0.4 Stl, 0.9 Blk, .674 FG%, .625 FT%

3. Tyler Herro - SG - MIA

21.8 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 3.7 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 0.1 Blk, .454 FG%, .398 3P%, .872 FT%

4. Ricky Rubio - PG - CLE

15.1 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 6.2 Ast, 1.3 Stl, 0.2 Blk, .371 FG%, .363 3P%, .859 FT%

5. LaMarcus Aldridge - C - BRK

13.6 Pts, 5.9 Reb, 0.9 Ast, 0.3 Stl, 1.2 Blk, .575 FG%, .391 3P%, .778 FT%

All-Time Player Rank Changes

Stephen Curry has passed Moses Malone to move up to #24

Damian Lillard has passed Bob McAdoo to move up to #62

Anthony Davis has passed Louie Dampier, Tracy McGrady, Tim Hardaway Sr, and Chris Webber to move up to #72

Draymond Green has passed Vince Carter, Bob Lanier, Amare' Stoudemire, and Wes Unseld to move up to #89

NBA ROY/6th Man Rankings - 7 Dec

I posted my picks for the leading MVP candidates a couple weeks ago, so today I've got the leaders for the top rookie and 6th man, using a similar formula to the one I use for MVP, except that team success is not counted, since it doesn't seem to be a factor when you look at the usual winners of these awards. Here are my current award rankings:

Rookie of the Year

1. Ja Morant - MEM - 18.6 P, 3.2 R, 6.4 A, 1.4 S, .457 FG, .410 3P, .765 FT

Ja has missed the last few games with back spasms, but he is leading all rookies in scoring and assists, and is shooting well all-around, though he has to compete with a teammate for the chance to be the top rookie.

2. Brandon Clarke - MEM - 11.8 P, 5.9 R, 1.3 A, .630 FG, .826 FT

Morant's teammate is leading all rookies in rebounding, and is among the leaders in field goal percentage as well, all while coming off the bench. Like his teammate, Clarke is currently out due to injury, so it could open the door for another rookie to make a move, though these two are the current leaders by far.

3. Eric Paschall - GSW - 17.1 P, 5.3 R, 1.8 A, .507 FG, .811 FT

Paschall has played a lot this year due to all the injuries to Warriors starters, and he has played very well considering that he was a second-round pick. He has scored in double figures in 13 straight games and had a high of 34 points against Portland about a month ago.

4. Kendrick Nunn - MIA - 15.2 P, 2.5 R, 3.4 A, 1.1 S, .441 FG, .349 3P, .759 FT

It is extremely rare for an undrafted rookie to start every game for a team in playoff contention, but that is exactly what Nunn is doing, though his scoring has dropped off a bit in the last couple weeks. Still, for someone whose name wasn't called last spring, he is having a season for the ages.

Honorable Mention: Terence Davis - TOR, Rui Hachimura - WAS, Tyler Herro - MIA


Sixth Man of the Year

1. Lou Williams - LAC - 20.7 P, 3.3 R, 6.2 A, .422 FG, .357 3P, .848 FT

Williams was listed among my MVP contenders a couple weeks ago, but his production has dropped off a little since Paul George's return, though not enough for him to not be the leading contender for Sixth Man of the Year for a 4th time.

2. Montrezl Harrell - LAC - 18.7 P, 8.0 R, 2.2 A, 1.2 B, .597 FG, .625 FT

Another Clipper is sitting near the top of the Sixth Man standings due to a career year, and Harrell's production is not slowing down. Having such a solid bench is a huge part of what is making the Clippers a championship contender, and Harrell looks to be a big part of that all year.

3. Derrick Rose - DET - 15.8 P, 2.0 R, 5.7 A, .485 FG, .865 FT

Rose was a contender for 6th Man last year before his year was cut short by injury again, so hopefully this season ends differently for the former MVP, who has battled injuries ever since his initial injury right after his big season.

4. Brandon Clarke - MEM - 11.8 P, 5.9 R, 1.3 A, .630 FG, .826 FT

See rookie rankings

Honorable Mention: Christian Wood - DET, Jordan Clarkson - CLE, Bogdan Bogdanovic - SAC