The season is slowly coming to a close, and the playoffs are rapidly approaching. With just a few weeks left, we have a very good idea on which teams will be competing for the NBA title this year and which teams will likely fade into obscurity in the near future as we could be seeing a ton of rebuilds and re-stocking of rosters in the offseason. But we have also seen the cream of the crop in terms of individual players and their standout performances.
- 10. LeBron James
- 9. Karl-Anthony Towns
- 8. DeMar DeRozan
- 7. Luka Doncic
- 6. Devin Booker
- 5. Jayson Tatum
- 4. Ja Morant
- 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
- 2. Nikola Jokic
- 1. Joel Embiid
- Next
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While the NBA team power rankings are becoming more clear to see, what about the rankings of all the top players? We have seen enough from the league’s best stars with regards to who is in the MVP race and who isn’t, and it is time to provide the updated MVP power rankings as the month of April nears. It is important to mention that solid performers such as Chris Paul and Kevin Durant will not be included in the power rankings due to their injuries and total games missed. Without further ado, here are the updated MVP power rankings.
10. LeBron James
2021-22 Statistics: 30.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG
It is time to respect what LeBron James is doing for the Los Angeles Lakers, despite his team’s putrid team record and horrible style of play. Without James, the Lakers are probably the worst team in the league, which is shocking considering Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook are both on the roster.
But James has had to overcome a lot, including the worst season of Westbrook’s career and the continued absence of Davis due to injury. At age 37, James is leading the league in scoring and is singlehandedly keeping the Lakers’ playoff hopes alive. We all know The King will not be winning his 5th MVP award this season, but he deserves to be in the top-10 power rankings out of respect for his continuous greatness.
9. Karl-Anthony Towns
2021-22 Statistics: 24.6 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Karl-Anthony Towns is back to playing his best basketball and seems content with his performances this season. After a few years of dealing with off-court adversity and even his potential loss of confidence following the Jimmy Butler fiasco, Towns looks happy to be balling out of his mind.
Towns claimed he is the best shooting big man ever, and he has a pretty good point considering he won the 3-Point Contest this year and is shooting 40.7% from three this season. Beyond his elite shooting, Towns is developing an edge in his play and is enjoying his trash talk on the floor. Patrick Beverley might be rubbing off on him, and that is a very good thing for the Timberwolves.
8. DeMar DeRozan
2021-22 Statistics: 27.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 PG
DeMar DeRozan has had a fantastic season and should be on an All-NBA Team at the end of the year. One of the best isolation scorers in the NBA and a great leader, DeRozan has come up big for the Chicago Bulls throughout the year. Whether the ball is in his hands or he is coming off screens, DeMar has also been a clutch player on offense.
But the All-Star has fallen in the MVP power rankings, mainly because the Bulls have not got the job done against top-tier teams this season. Chicago will still be a force in the playoffs and a team nobody wants to play against, but their form has been questionable in the big games. Still, DeMar is in the MVP conversation because of his consistency since the start of the season.
7. Luka Doncic
2021-22 Statistics: 27.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 8.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Luka Doncic’s name will be in the MVP rankings going forward for a very long time because he is truly a once-in-a-generation talent. The Slovenian is not only a special passer and scorer but has the natural leadership abilities to help take the Dallas Mavericks over the hump someday. So far, the former No. 3 overall pick is off to a magical start to his career.
Doncic is the perfect player for the Mavericks, mainly because he resembles Dirk Nowitzki in terms of being a below-the-rim player but still having the skills to dominate the game. Doncic is getting more shooters around him by the season, and the addition of Spencer Dinwiddie has been a genius move by the front office. If Luka can get past the first round of the playoffs, he will have the experience necessary to slowly become the face of the NBA.
6. Devin Booker
2021-22 Statistics: 26.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG
The Phoenix Suns are rolling, even in the absence of future Hall of Fame point guard, Chris Paul. The main reason? Devin Booker. The shooting guard is an elite scorer, and we all know that after the man dropped 70 points in an NBA game. By improving his leadership and all-around abilities, Devin is ready to take his game to the next level.
The Suns will be finishing the season with the number one seed in the Western Conference, and they have managed to keep afloat while CP3 tries to get back into game shape. Whether Phoenix makes the Finals again depends on their point guard’s health, but as long as Booker continues playing at an MVP level, they are in good hands.
5. Jayson Tatum
2021-22 Statistics: 27.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Jayson Tatum is coming, ladies and gentlemen. The man is playing out of his mind and is starting to embrace a villain role when he hits the road. Similar to a young Kobe Bryant, Tatum is a player that opposing fans love to boo but also love to watch go to work.
He is putting up monster scoring numbers and has been the best player for a Boston Celtics team that could end up with a top-2 seed in the East after a horrible start to the season. An unstoppable one-on-one scorer with size and athleticism, Tatum is slowly becoming the superstar we all know he can be.
4. Ja Morant
2021-22 Statistics: 27.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG
To Grizzlies fans and excited NBA fans, Ja Morant should be the frontrunner for the MVP award considering his elite play for Memphis all year long. The All-Star is the most athletic player in the league this year, making big shots left and right while literally flying and hanging in the air. An excellent scorer around the basket, Morant also has the mentality and skills to be a leader.
Nobody could have predicted that Memphis would be a top-2 seed in the Western Conference, ahead of teams such as the Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers who everybody thought would be better than the young Grizzlies. But Morant is in the win-now mode in only his 3rd season, a testament to his greatness as a player.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2021-22 Statistics: 29.7 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Two-time MVP and reigning NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo is having an excellent year for the Bucks, and he seems to be getting his squad ready for another Finals push. The Greek Freak is doing Greek Freak things, dominating every aspect of the floor while showcasing an improved jump shot. Deep into his prime, there is simply no stopping Giannis.
The Bucks are currently in a top-5 seed in the East, with only a few games behind the top spot. If Giannis can get closer to the 1st seed, he could very well end up being a 3-time MVP at the end of the year. In almost any year, Antetokounmpo would be the MVP frontrunner because his numbers are ridiculous, but there are undeniably two players in front of him right now.
2. Nikola Jokic
2021-22 Statistics: 26.3 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Nikola Jokic checks all the boxes for a fan-favorite superstar that is an MVP-caliber player. The Serbian is not only a unique passer with incredible size, but he has a high basketball IQ and an innate ability to take over games on his own terms. Quite frankly, without Jokic, the Denver Nuggets would be in the lottery considering the injuries they have had.
The center is a legitimate triple-double threat from the center position, something we have never seen before. In terms of raw talent, Jokic might be the best player in Denver Nuggets history although he has a lot more to achieve in his young career. Jokic has been jostling with one other player for the MVP award all year long, and he happens to be the frontrunner right now.
1. Joel Embiid
2021-22 Statistics: 29.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Barely edging out Nikola Jokic is Joel Embiid, a two-way superstar for the Philadelphia 76ers. Unless Giannis or Jokic go ballistic over the last few games of the season, Embiid should be earning his first MVP award at the end of the year. An unstoppable scorer with an improving handle, the center is putting up career-highs in PPG and APG.
Thanks to his improved passing, Embiid is a player that cannot be stopped. The only thing stopping Joel from achieving incredible heights is his injury history because it could strike at any moment. Knock on wood the big man stays healthy for the rest of his career because he has a chance to be something truly special and the MVP award could be coming his way very soon.
