The MVP Race Makes Absolutely No Sense

I get that we’re a month into the NBA season. There are bound to be lots of MVP candidates. But, the 2023 MVP race may take the cake for the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. The amount of historic performances we’re seeing is unprecedented.

Today, I’m going to rank every MVP candidate and discuss how strong their candidacy is.

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1. Luka Doncic (Dallas)

Luka Doncic has been everybody’s favorite to win the MVP award for the past few seasons. Doncic’s problem has been his team’s success. This season, even though the Mavericks are average, Doncic can’t be ignored.

Not only is he scoring at a pace that rivals the likes of Wilt Chamberlain or James Harden, he’s single-handily keeping the Mavericks afloat. Do you know that the Mavericks haven’t won a game this season when Luka doesn’t eclipse 30 points? Dallas would be tanking for Wembanyama if they didn’t already have a generational superstar.

Say what you want about Dallas’ playoff chances, but we can’t ignore the display that the wunderkind has been putting on;

33.5 points ~ 8.8 rebounds ~ 8.6 assists ~ 1.8 steals ~ 61% TS ~ 31.4 PER ~ 10.9 BPM ~ 5 Trip/Dub

No player in league history has averaged 33+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 8+ assists in a single season before. Nobody. Luka Doncic, a 23-year-old Slovenian kid, is doing it. The crazy part is that Doncic has hardly scratched the surface of his own absurdity.

You see, Doncic is only shooting 31% from beyond the arc this season. If he was shooting closer his to career of 34%, he would add a few points to his total. And, since Doncic tends to get stronger as the season progresses, I think that’s going to happen.

The Mavericks would be nowhere without Luka Doncic. I could sit here and complain about their inability to build around a generational talent who makes everybody around him better, but I won’t do that. The only thing standing in Doncic’s MVP candidacy is once again his own teammates.

You’d better fix everything, Kemba.

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2. Jayson Tatum (Boston)

While Luka Doncic labors to carry his team, Jayson Tatum isn’t having the same difficulties. The Celtics are making a mockery of the rest of the league, obliterating everybody in their path. Nobody is on Boston’s level right now, and the same can be said about Tatum.

Earlier this year, I talked about how good he was being. I was gushing about him. That same sentiment stands today. He’s the total package on both sides of the floor. In his sixth season, he’s put everything together. The speed, the size, the IQ, everything is being put on display.

Even with Boston’s drama-filled offseason, Tatum is leading the Celtics down a historic path. Boston houses the best offensive rating in the league and the best net rating. If Boston held this pace for the entire season, their relative offensive rating would be the best in the history of the franchise. 

Yes. One of the most storied franchises in all of sports is having its best offensive season. Did I mention this season is being dedicated to the late legend Bill Russell? And it’s being led by Tatum. That’s a pretty big deal. The cherry on top? Tatum is no longer abysmal in the clutch. Somebody pinch me…I must be dreaming.

30.8 points ~ 7.7 rebounds ~ 4.6 assists ~ 48% FG ~ 63% TS ~ 26.6 PER ~ 6.7 BPM

Tatum is hungry, driven, and determined. Nothing can stop him right now. If he keeps this up, he’ll be the frontrunner for this award.

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3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a hybrid of Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal. His numbers are so absurd that it feels silly to put him at the #3 spot. That’s why this MVP race is so ridiculous. Anyway, Giannis is one of only three players in NBA history to win MVP and defensive player of the year in the same season.

The other two being Michael Jordan (1988) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994). Well, the thing is, Giannis is having a season comparable to his 2020 season, where he accomplished this feat. Winning these two awards is something only some of the greatest players in the league could do. The fact that Giannis even has a chance to do this twice is beyond me.

30.9 points ~ 11.4 rebounds ~ 5.4 assists ~ 1.9 stocks ~ 53% FG ~ 28.5 PER ~ 8.2 BPM

Without Khris Middleton, Giannis has anchored the Bucks to start the season. When Middleton returns, the Bucks will fully realize their championship aspirations. I know the media ignores Giannis because he’s already won two MVPs, but what he’s doing is so impressive.

We haven’t seen this type of force in the league…maybe ever. There’s never been a player who dominates both sides of the ball like this. Like I said earlier, he’s some sort of Shaq/Duncan hybrid. We’ve been watching this guy for years now, and I still don’t know what to call him.

A token MVP is a nice reward for this guy.

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4. Stephen Curry (Golden State)

Steph Curry is the face of a dynasty and, arguably, the face of the league. Everybody knows him, and everybody loves him. His game is fun to watch, and, like Giannis, it’s something we’ve never seen before. Last season, Curry’s regular season left a lot to be desired. The same cannot be said about his efforts this season, however.

Even with the Warriors figuring out so many moving parts, Curry has again remained their constant. He is the sun of the Warriors universe. Everything revolves around him. No player creates so much space and demands so much attention offensively.

And no perimeter player has ever been this efficient with such a volume. Steph Curry has a 68.8% TS mark, which is a career-high. Curry has always been efficient, but it’s still mesmerizing how he’s that efficient with the degree of difficulty of his shots. 

Curry also leads the league in offensive box plus/minus and value over replacement player (VORP). In other words, he’s been fuckin’ amazing. Golden State has turned things around recently, but they wouldn’t be sniffing 0.500 if it wasn’t for Curry.

Shooting 44% from downtown while attempting nearly 12 of them per game isn’t normal. That’s some alien type stuff. But, for Steph Curry, it’s just another day at the office.

31.4 points ~ 6.7 rebounds ~ 7.0 assists ~ 44% 3-PT ~ 68% TS ~ 28.5 PER ~ 10.5 BPM

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5. Nikola Jokic (Denver)

Nikola Jokic put up one of the greatest statistical seasons last year. At the center position, no less, he led the league in every stat some nerd from Yale could dream about. Offensive win shares? You bet. Win shares per 48 minutes? Got it. Offensive, defensive, and box plus/minus? Why not? And, the pièce de résistance? The most efficient season ever, determined by PER.

So, how has Jokic followed up on one of the greatest offensive seasons in league history? By doing some even weirder stuff. Jokic hasn’t been shooting or scoring that much this season. He’s taken a backseat to the likes of Murray and Porter Jr.

But, Jokic remains a force on both ends of the floor. He’s a sleeping giant. When he wants to, he can utterly carve up any defenses. His passing and vision make Denver’s offense hum like an engine. Jokic is an advanced stat cheat code.

Every advanced stat loves him. While his surface-level stats don’t look that impressive, the underlying numbers prove he’s as valuable as ever. Jokic’s 0.305 win shares per 48 is the highest it’s ever been in his career. As Denver tries to reassert themselves into the upper echelon of the Western Conference, Nikola Jokic will be key to their ambitions.

23.0 points ~ 9.8 rebounds ~ 8.8 assists ~ 62% FG(!) ~ 70% TS ~ 31.2 PER ~ 11.3 BPM

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6. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)

Joel Embiid’s first month to the season has been a microcosm of his MVP candidacy in recent seasons. It’s almost scary how close the two are when you look closer;

• Step One: Carry the 76ers
  
• Step Two: Absolutely Bully Somebody (hi Utah)
  
• Step Three: Get Hurt
  
• Step Four: Repeat Steps 1-3 again and again and again and again and again…

Joel Embiid’s 59-point, 11-rebound, 8-assist, 7-block utter brilliance was one of the greatest games in NBA history. No. Seriously. Embiid’s game score for this performance was 54.4. That makes it the 7th best regular season game score of all time. We witnessed history on that night.

But, Embiid once again got hurt. For whatever reason, we always see Embiid break down and miss 10-15+ games every season. And that’s why I don’t think he’ll ever win an MVP. His per game numbers are as good as everybody else’s, but he can’t stay on the floor long enough to be taken seriously.

While he just returned from injury, injuries will always cast a dark shadow over Embiid’s hopes at an MVP. He’ll just have to settle for the 60-game MVP award, instead.

32.1 points ~ 9.9 rebounds ~ 2.7 stocks ~ 52% FG ~ 63% TS ~ 29.1 PER ~ 8.4 BPM

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7. Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland)

While the Cleveland Cavaliers have been up and down, Donovan Mitchell has been their best player. The All-Star from Utah has fit like a hand in a glove since joining his new team. An early injury to Garland necessitated Mitchell doing a lot more offensively.

Even with Garland returning to the lineup, Mitchell has remained the #1 option for this Cavs team. He’s bringing them that punch that they so dearly missed last season. Mitchell’s candidacy is like Curry’s 2015 MVP season. His numbers are good, but he’s a great player on a great team.

Now, will the Cavs be that good that voters use this idea? Probably not. Mitchell’s candidacy will be determined by how good the Cavs are by the end of the season. I’m not trying to diminish his hot start to the year, but that’s the reality of things.

28.9 points ~ 5.0 assists ~ 41% 3-PT ~ 63% TS ~ 23.9 PER ~ 7.0 BPM

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8. Kevin Durant (Brooklyn)

Kevin Durant has been his typical self this season. He’s shown so signs of slowing down any time soon. The problem is, I don’t think voters will ever give him any time of day. Brooklyn is its own media cycle at this point. Everybody is focusing on everything except for the product on the court.

It doesn’t matter that Durant is making 61% of his two-pointers. Nor does it matter that he’s leading the league in minutes and points. Nope. All that matters is Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving.

Durant is in an unfortunate situation, but maybe that’s a good thing. A little less spotlight on the Nets wouldn’t be the worst thing for them, all things considered. Still, doing this should deserve a little more attention;

30.0 points ~ 6.6 rebounds ~ 5.4 rebounds ~ 1.8 blocks ~ 55% FG ~ 26.6 PER ~ 6.7 BPM

In every year except 2023, these numbers would put you at the front of the MVP race.

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9. Ja Morant (Memphis)

The most fun and electrifying player in the league continues to do what he does best. There is no player like Morant. He’s the engine for whatever the Grizzlies do. Morant is doing basically what he did last year, although I’d argue he’s been better this season.

For one, his 3-PT shooting and defense have improved considerably. While his surface level shots look basically the same, I think Morant is becoming a more well-rounded point guard. His efficiency could be better, but averaging nearly 29 points per game isn’t bad, either.

Injuries are the only thing that will hinder Morant. That’s what happened to him last year. The Grizzlies are very good, and if Morant can stay on the floor, he will move up this list in no time.

28.5 points ~ 6.4 rebounds ~ 7.6 assists ~ 1.1 steals ~ 47% FG ~ 25.7 PER ~ 6.5 BPM

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10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)

The OKC Thunder won’t help SGA generate any MVP buzz. Heck, there are some candidates that I haven’t mentioned yet that probably have a better case to win the award. But, I couldn’t ignore the offensive display that Gilgeous-Alexander has been putting on.

SGA has become a scoring machine this season, averaging better than 31 points per game. The most impressive part is that he doesn’t shoot a lot of threes. He doesn’t need to. SGA’s ball-handling and elusiveness make him a joy to watch.

Sam Presti needs to stop tanking and get SGA some help. I cannot stand by and watch as more of his talent gets wasted. This guy is too good to be near the bottom of the Western Conference every year. The good news is that Shai is finally getting some attention.

But, if he could win some more, Shai’s future MVP bids will hold a lot more weight.

31.1 points ~ 6.1 assists ~ 2.9 stocks ~ 51% FG ~ 27.9 PER ~ 7.3 BPM

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Who is going to win MVP? Leave a comment down below!

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