MVP Ladder 2/9/21

(@NBA)

3. Nikola Jokic

If the Nuggets were a better team, Nikola Jokic would be the MVP frontrunner. Jokic had been feasting on opponents with his ability to pass, score inside, and shoot the long ball effectively. The “Augustus Gloop” of the NBA has averaged a whopping 32.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists over the past week. He has carried the Denver offense on his back, but the team is only 1-2 over that stretch. This is the reason Jokic sits at the number 3 spot. He has not been able to turn these games into wins, which has been the story of the Nuggets’ season so far. If Jokic and Denver can turn things around and start to look more like last year’s team, Jokic will be sprinting, or lightly jogging, to the number one spot. 12-11 isn’t going to cut it when these next two men are producing Ws.

(bettingsports.com)

2. Joel Embiid

Embiid was sooooo close to the number one spot this week. Joel has continued his MVP campaign and career year throughout the last three games. Embiid lead his Sixers to a 2-1 record this week, with wins over the Hornets and Nets. He has marked his flag on the “best big man in the East” hill and will most likely stay there for the foreseeable future. No I don’t count KD and Giannis as bigmen. They are unicorns. Embiid is putting up 34.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game over the past week. The 76ers having taken a massive leap since last season and Embiid is a huge reason why. His quick and willing adaptation into Doc Rivers’ offense has allowed Philly to run better as a team and has given Embiid the opportunities to flourish. Embiid is right in the thick on things for his first MVP. If it wasn’t for that meddling king.

(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

1. LeBron James

As the great Dave Chappelle once said “Gotcha Bitch.” Yeah, its the same as last week. But LeBron has done nothing to slide down from the number one spot. If anything, he has begun pulling away from the field. James and the Lakers have gone 3-0 in the last week and have won 5 in a row overall. In the Lakers three games this week, James has scored at least 27 points in all of them and has secured a Triple-Double twice. He is averaging 29 points, 11 assists, and 9.6 rebounds a game over that stretch. LeBron is currently playing more minutes per game than young stars like Jaylen Brown, Zion Williamson, and Donovan Mitchell. At age 36. He is a certified robot of a man who could win MVP any year he wants to. This year he is leading the best team in the league to the second best record in the league, all while nearly averaging a Triple-Double. For me, the MVP is still The King’s to lose.

(tmz.com)