For more than a decade now, DNA of Sports has been offering you its Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”. This week, the time has come to make the first global inventory of this race for the best player, since we are (already) at the quarter of the season.
After a month and a half of competition, two names stand out from the competition, those of the leaders of the two best teams in the league: Jayson Tatum (Celtics) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks). Irreproachable since the recovery, they continue to accumulate cards in victories, but it is the Boston player who seems to have the upper hand over that of Milwaukee for the moment.
On the one hand, because the C’s prance in the lead in the standings, relying on a fiery attack (121 points out of 100 possessions, a potential NBA record!). On the other hand, because “Jay” continues to progress in all areas, missing only one match so far (compared to three for his rival) and as a bonus, breathing new life into this race for the MVP, which the “Greek Freak” has been accustomed to for several years now.
Two other players are aiming for the hat-trick…
Already rewarded twice with this Maurice Podoloff statuette, in 2019 then 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo is not the only player to aim for a pass of three which has so far only been achieved by eight legends: Kareem Abdul- Jabbar (6), Bill Russell (5), Michael Jordan (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4), LeBron James (4), Moses Malone (3), Larry Bird (3) and finally Magic Johnson (3).
In the dark, Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry are actually considering adding their names to this prestigious list. Except that, for the time being, they suffer from a slight lack of consideration compared to the Tatum/Antetokounmpo duo, and this for various reasons.
On the one hand, the pivot of the Nuggets, incidentally double MVP in title, will undoubtedly have to compose (like so many others before him) with the weariness of the voters. Certainly radiant individually, he also risks paying for stats revised downwards, given the returns of Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr. But as he must now shine in the playoffs and no longer in the regular season, it is not really a problem…
On the other, crowned in 2015 and 2016, the leader of the Warriors would imagine winning a new individual trophy, he who is already the MVP of the Finals In title. The fact remains that, despite completely crazy figures on a personal level (31/7/7 on average, with success percentages of 52/44/91…), the “Chef” is struggling in the rankings with Golden State, only 8th West. However, there has been better for two weeks (6-2) and, in the event of a recovery, it will be difficult not to put it in the discussion.
Luka Doncic, weighed down by his results?
Discussion that for the moment cannot really integrate a certain Luka Doncic. Some will no doubt be offended, noting that he is still averaging nearly 33 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals, but how can we consider the candidacy of a player whose team (the Mavericks ) has a negative balance sheet and is not in the Top 8 of its conference, or even in the Top 10?
Obviously, the season is still long and the gap between 3rd and 11th in the West is only three games, but the Slovenian is currently a step below Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo, or even Nikola Jokic or Stephen Curry. Impossible, however, to take him out of our Top 5, because Dallas would probably be struggling with Houston and San Antonio in the bottom of the rankings, if “Luka Magic” did not play.
A finding that could also apply to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and to Anthony Davisat the Thunder and the Lakers, or to a lesser extent at Kevin Durant at the Nets. Or three players who are a hit individually but who are above all weighed down by their collective results.
A few surprises among regulars
Quite the opposite of De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, ex-teammates who surprise many people with the Kings and the Pacers, present in the Top 8 of each conference. Initially called upon to shine in average or even downright bad teams, the two playmakers are currently taking their franchises to unexpected heights. Insufficient, however, to hope for better than a first participation in the All-Star Game, or even a first selection in an All-NBA Team, if they continue their momentum…
Another nice surprise at the start of the season: the express integration of Donovan Mitchell at the Cavaliers, after his departure from the Jazz. Quickly empowered, due to the injury of Darius Garland, he quickly established himself as the attacking leader of a Top 3 team in the East and which we should logically find in the playoffs next spring. Without LeBron James in the workforce, it would be a first since… 1998!
Finally, less surprising because they finished in the Top 10 of the last poll, Devin Booker and Ja Morant stand in ambush, without making a sound. It must be said that the results of Phoenix and Memphis, still in the Top 4 in the West, are (very?) convincing, despite the physical glitches of several of their teammates (Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson on the Suns side, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. on the Grizzlies side), and the Booker/Morant pair obviously has a lot to do with it.
Race to the MVP 2023: our Top 5
1 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 17 wins, 4 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 20 disputed out of 21 possible.
Statistics: 30.8 pts, 7.7 reb, 4.6 pds, 0.9 int, 1.2 ctr and 2.4 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 48% on shots, 35% at 3-pts and 87% on throws.
2 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 14 wins, 5 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 16 disputed out of 19 possible.
Statistics: 30.9 pts, 11.4 reb, 5.4 pds, 0.9 int, 1.0 ctr and 3.8 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 53% shooting, 23% 3-pt and 60% throwing.
3 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 13 wins, 7 losses – 2nd in the West.
Matches: 17 contested out of 20 possible.
Statistics: 23.0 pts, 9.8 reb, 8.8 pds, 1.3 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.2 pdb in 32 min.
Percentages: 62% on shots, 29% at 3-pts and 85% on throws.
4 – Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Assessment: 11 wins, 10 losses – 8th in the West.
Matches: 19 disputed out of 21 possible.
Statistics: 31.4 pts, 6.8 reb, 7.1 pds, 1.2 int, 0.2 ctr and 2.9 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 52% on shots, 44% at 3-pts and 91% on throws.
5 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Assessment: 9 wins, 10 losses – 11th in the West.
Matches: 18 disputed out of 19 possible.
Statistics: 33.1 pts, 8.7 reb, 8.4 pds, 1.7 int, 0.5 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 50% on shots, 31% on 3-pts and 73% on throws.
Mentions : Devin Booker (Suns), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Kevin Durant (Nets), De’Aaron Fox (Kings), Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)…
