The MVP race is heating up this season because every month there are changes to the ladder. With so many superstars competing at a high level this year, predicting who will win the award is nearly impossible with less than half the season completed so far. But we have ranked the updated power rankings to reflect which stars are at the top of the MVP race so far this season.
- 10. Joel Embiid
- 9. James Harden
- 8. Rudy Gobert
- 7. Zach LaVine
- 6. Chris Paul
- 5. DeMar DeRozan
- 4. Nikola Jokic
- 3. Kevin Durant
- 2. Stephen Curry
- 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Based on their stats, impact, and all-around contributions for their teams; these could be the final MVP rankings that we can see at the end of the year. Obviously, injuries or other factors could completely alter this ranking, but the majority of these players will likely be in their spots by the end of this exciting 2021-2022 NBA season. Here are the updated MVP power rankings as we continue into the new year.
10. Joel Embiid
2021-22 NBA Stats: 26.5 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.4 BPG
As long as Embiid is healthy, will likely be in the MVP race for the entire season because he is one of the most dominant individual players in the league at his position. The Cameroonian superstar has been a superstar since his second season, and he will be a major reason that the Philadelphia 76ers will make the playoffs this year.
If the Philadelphia 76ers have a chance to acquire a star player at the expense of Ben Simmons, the team should be in good shape moving forward. Embiid has showcased every superstar factor in his game this season, whether it’s scoring the ball or dominating on defense. Quite frankly, Embiid is a top-three big man in the game and it isn’t close.
9. James Harden
2021-22 NBA Stats: 22.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 9.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG
For the way James Harden has picked up his game over the past few weeks, he deserves to be in the MVP conversation. It is Harden’s presence as a scorer and playmaker that helped the Brooklyn Nets achieve one of the top-2 seeds in the East this season without the presence of superstar Kyrie Irving. His numbers alone are MVP-worthy and he will be an All-Star in the East yet again.
The Beard had a slow start to the season but has picked it up with his offensive skills and efficiency. We all know how great Kevin Durant is, but the forward is thankful to have had Harden by his side as the Irving situation starts getting sorted. James has embraced his role as the primary playmaker, and he has prospered as Durant’s sidekick.
8. Rudy Gobert
2021-22 NBA Stats: 15.5 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.3 BPG
It is time to put respect on Rudy Gobert’s name. The center is behind Donovan Mitchell as an offensive player and also as a “flashy” star on the court, but his impact has been the biggest reason the Utah Jazz have a top-3 record in the West. We saw how Gobert has reigned as a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, and he has a chance to make it 4 by the end of the year.
The Frenchman is putting up a monster double-double while defending the rim with force, factors that have given Utah an incredible boost on defense. Gobert’s presence allows others to shine, whether that is Donovan Mitchell or sharpshooter Jordan Clarkson. Rudy is reliant on others to give him easy looks around the basket, but that doesn’t take away from his greatness as a special defensive star.
7. Zach LaVine
2021-22 NBA Stats: 26.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Zach LaVine is playing at an elite level this season, guiding the Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference (25-10). The sharpshooter is nailing 42.0% from three, 49.7% from the field, and 85.7% from the free-throw line. Thanks to LaVine’s scoring and his duo with DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls are a force in the Eastern Conference.
Anytime a player (who is likely an All-Star) is getting close to the first seed in the East, he will be in the MVP race by default. But LaVine is no ordinary player because he is only 26 years of age with plenty of basketball left to play. The shooting guard has been sublime, and this is just the beginning.
6. Chris Paul
2021-22 NBA Stats: 14.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 9.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Chris Paul, at nearly 37 years old, is still one of the best point guards in the league. In fact, he might be the most impactful at his position outside of Stephen Curry. The Phoenix Suns do not have a top-2 record in the Western Conference without the leadership and playmaking of the all-time great floor general.
Paul’s numbers are fantastic once again, and it is amazing how he has been able to maintain an elite level of play at this stage of his career. Paul’s three-point shooting has taken a dip (31.5%), but his field goal percentage is high (48.0%) and so is his free-throw shooting (83.3%). With efficiency on offense, excellent defense, and legendary playmaking; Chris Paul is getting close to the top-5 in the MVP race.
5. DeMar DeRozan
2021-22 NBA Stats: 26.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
DeMar DeRozan has been the most important piece this season for the Chicago Bulls because his scoring has been exceptional. The forward is averaging 26.9 PPG on 49.4% shooting from the field, 36.2% from three, and 85.8% from the stripe. DeMar is also one of the most clutch players in the league and is the first player in NBA history to nail game-winners in back-to-back games.
Between him and Zach LaVine, it is tough to decide on which star should be ahead in the MVP race. But DeRozan gets the edge because he has taken over the Bulls’ offense over the past few games and is a terrifying clutch player down the stretch. DeRozan’s confidence is at an all-time high, and that is why he is getting closer to the 4 best players in the league this season.
4. Nikola Jokic
2021-22 NBA Stats: 25.7 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Nikola Jokic has an uphill battle in getting Denver back into a top-3 seeding because his injury decimated the team earlier this season. Without the reigning MVP on the court, the Nuggets struggled to find wins and are fortunate to be above .500 so far this season. Once the center starts stringing some wins together for his team, Denver should be back in the title race once again.
But on paper, Jokic has been all-time great. The center is putting up numbers, unlike anything we have seen from a below-the-rim player like Jokic is. Nikola already won the MVP last year, but he might be putting up better statistics this year. His RPG numbers are a career-high, and he has developed an edge in his play. Thanks to his increased toughness and aggression, Jokic is a better player this season and is edging closer to the top-3 in the MVP race.
3. Kevin Durant
2021-22 NBA Stats: 29.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Kevin Durant is in the top-3 by default because he has kept Brooklyn with the best record in the East despite the absence of Kyrie Irving and James Harden’s struggles earlier in the season. Averaging nearly 30 PPG (37.3% 3-PT FG, 51.4% FG) after a severe Achilles injury is unbelievable, but Durant has proved his worth as a top-3 player in the world. Without Durant on the roster, the Nets are somewhere in the middle of the pack in the East.
In almost any other season, Durant would likely be #1 in the MVP race. That goes to show how dominant the top-2 players in the game are right now because KD has been at his best all season long. Losing the last 3 games at home also hurts Durant’s stock, because he should have closed some of those teams out. Nonetheless, Durant will likely be in the top-3 all season long.
2. Stephen Curry
2021-22 NBA Stats: 27.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
The best point guard in the game is playing at an extremely elite level, and he could be having his best season yet in terms of on-court dominance and leadership. Without Klay Thompson, Curry has made the Golden State Warriors much better than anyone expected. Thanks to Curry’s leadership as an experienced veteran with championship pedigree, he has elevated the play of those around him.
It will be scary to imagine how the Warriors will look once Klay returns because their rotation will be elite on both ends of the floor. Steph is an elite talent, and he keeps adding new dimensions to his game. This year, Curry’s defense has been excellent and so has his end-game decision-making. With the point guard playing Hall of Fame basketball, as usual, he is right on the heels of the MVP favorite right now.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2021-22 NBA Stats: 27.9 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG
The Greek Freak is the most physically dominant superstar in the game because he is simply stronger and more athletic than anybody in the league right now. Giannis is an unbelievable talent on the court because he can defend 5 positions and also score anytime he gets ahead of steam. It does not even matter that Giannis is shooting under 28% from the three-point line this year.
The Bucks are only 2.0 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the best record in the East, and that is thanks to Giannis’ impact. Milwaukee have faced a ton of inconsistency with their roster thanks to injuries and Covid, but Giannis has been the steadying force. Quite simply, Giannis has been more dominant than any other star in the league, which is why he is drawing comparisons to 2000 MVP Shaquille O’Neal.
