Just when I was ready to submit to what an awesome season Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having and add him back to the ladder despite OKC’s 11-16 record, another player on a team well below .500 came shooting up the rankings. And well, there’s simply too many good players on winning teams for me to add both Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Davis to my ladder.
So, it’ll be Davis cracking the top 10 on this edition, joining Joel Embiid in replacing Tyrese Haliburton and Devin Booker. Booker was a tough player to knock, but a recent hamstring injury threatens to keep him sidelined a little while and he was only averaging 14 points on less than 35% shooting in the three games before that, all losses.
So maybe, SGA makes it next time around. I also expect Zion Williamson to crack the rankings soon with the way he’s been playing lately.
(Odds via BetMGM)
10
Joel Embiid (+1200)
PPG: 33.4 | RPG: 9.8 | APG: 4.8 | SPG: 1.1 | BPG: 1.6
WS/48: .241 (4th)
Record: 14-12
Embiid needs more games under his belt to climb, but he’s been great on both ends of the floor since his return from injury. In his last four games, he’s averaging 41 points. That includes 53 on Sunday, his second 50-ball of the season.
9
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (+3300)
PPG: 27.7 | RPG: 12.4 | APG: 2.7 | SPG: 1.3 | BPG: 2.2
WS/48: .294 (2nd)
Record: 11-15
AD has been going absolutely bonkers lately, with his hallmark game being the 44 points he scored to outduel Giannis Antetokounmpo. He followed that with 55 against the Wizards. Then, after leaving the Cleveland game with an illness last Tuesday, he returned to score 31 and 34 in LA’s last two games.
8
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (+3000)
PPG: 27.7 | RPG: 6.6 | APG: 7.8 | SPG: 1.2
WS/48: .165 (31st)
Record: 18-9
The Grizzlies are winners of six straight, but Morant missed two games during that stretch. That includes a beatdown of the Hawks in their last game. That’s not to say he isn’t valuable to the team, but they’re good all around.
7
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (+1000)
PPG: 30.0 | RPG: 6.6 | APG: 7.0 | SPG: 1.0
WS/48: .229 (7th)
Record: 14-13
An underrated part of Curry’s game, he’s averaging his most assists since 2014-15. Curry reminded everyone why he was Finals MVP last summer with 32 points on 6-of-11 from three in a win over the Celtics on Saturday.
6
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (+3000)
PPG: 29.0 | RPG: 4.0 | APG: 4.7 | SPG: 1.4
WS/48: .211 (12th)
Record: 17-11
Lately, it’s seemed like Mitchell has to score at least 30 for the Cavs to win. They’re 1-4 in his last five games under 30. Luckily he doesn’t do that often. His 43 points last Tuesday carried them to victory over the Lakers.
5
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets (+4000)
PPG: 30.0 | RPG: 6.7 | APG: 5.5 | BPG: 1.7
WS/48: .214 (10th)
Record: 17-12
The Nets are incredibly up to fourth in the East, and the more they win, the more Durant rises. He scored 45 and 39 in consecutive games after the last MVP ladder, and the Nets are winners of eight of their last nine.
4
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+2000)
PPG: 23.8 | RPG: 10.1 | APG: 9.1 | SPG: 1.2
WS/48: .296 (1st)
Record: 16-10
While his season average is just short of a triple-double, Jokic actually is averaging a triple-double over his last three games. That includes 32-11-12 during a current two-game winning streak.
3
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks (+300)
PPG: 33.1 | RPG: 8.6 | APG: 8.8 | SPG: 1.7
WS/48: .250 (3rd)
Record: 14-13
Doncic just won’t let the Mavs slide too far, and his 41-point triple-double in a win over the Warriors a couple weeks ago was a prime example.
2
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (+275)
PPG: 31.1 | RPG: 11.3 | APG: 5.4 | BPG: 1.0
WS/48: .204 (14th)
Record: 19-7
Antetokounmpo was averaging nearly 35 points in the five games before Sunday’s bad loss to the Rockets, including a 40-piece against the Lakers. Prior to that, Milwaukee had won four straight.
1
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (+275)
PPG: 30.0 | RPG: 8.1 | APG: 4.0 | SPG: 1.1 | BPG: 1.0
WS/48: .180 (23rd)
Record: 21-7
Tatum has cooled off since the last ladder, averaging just 22 points in his last six games while taking a backseat to Jaylen Brown on offense. They’re 3-3 in those games, the best evidence that Boston is better when he’s better. He did recently drop a season-high 49 points to beat the Heat though.
