A little bit of movement in the top five this week, but not at the top, where a definitive favorite appears to be emerging after the All-Star break. If anyone was yearning for someone to try to take control of the MVP race for the final month of the season, a certain big man out West seems happy to oblige. Let’s get to the rankings.
(All stats through March 7. Previous rankings can be seen here.)
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1. Nikola Jokić
In his last three games, the Denver Nuggets center is averaging 30.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists on 56.5% shooting from the field, including 41.7% from three. In a potential Finals preview against the Boston Celtics on Thursday, the Joker took over down the stretch, dominating the Celts’ No. 2 defense. Jokić remains the most unanswerable player in the league, even against the very best opponents.
Related: Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets Can't Be Stopped
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Ho hum, just two more 30-point games for SGA since we last checked in on him. At his current pace, he is set to shatter the Oklahoma City Thunder record for 30-point games in a season, which is no small feat for a franchise that once employed Kevin Durant. With OKC about to play five of its next six at home, the Thunder are in a solid position to take over the No. 1 seed in the West.
Related: Thunder Have the Talent to Make a Deep Playoff Run
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo returned from injury this week only for the Milwaukee Bucks to be handed a 35-point loss by the Golden State Warriors. The Bucks are going to have opportunities to make a statement about their Doc Rivers–led revival over the next couple of weeks, though, with games upcoming against the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Celtics. Despite some early-season foibles, Antetokounmpo’s Bucks are only 2½ games behind SGA’s Thunder.
Related: The Bucks’ Defense Is Becoming a Championship-Caliber One
4. Luka Dončić
Dončić stopped the bleeding of a three-game losing streak with a monster performance against the Miami Heat on Thursday. He is averaging 37/11/11 while shooting 51.9% in four games in March.
5. Jayson Tatum
Tough week for Tatum, who kind of no-showed in the fourth quarter of Boston’s collapse against the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this week, then struggled in a marquee matchup against Denver, missing a wide-open three late that would have given his team the lead. Both losses took a little bit of shine off Tatum’s candidacy, but he has a nice chance to bounce back as the Celtics play four under-.500 teams in their next five games.
Honorable mentions: Finals MVPs of the 2010s who are still balling, Kawhi Leonard and Durant.
