What turned out to be a wildly consequential week in the NBA means significant changes for the MVP rankings since we last met in this space. There’s a new leader atop this list, and arguably the favorite only seven days ago is now in danger of dropping out of the race entirely. Let’s get to the leaderboard.
(All stats through Feb. 1. Last week’s rankings can be found here.)
1. Nikola Jokić
The Joker doesn’t have the flashiest scoring totals, but after a slower (for him) start to the season, he’s now more than making up for it in efficiency. Jokić shot 66.5% from the field over the entire month of January. For a whole month he hit two-thirds of his shots! His most recent performance was stellar, recording a triple double in a home win over the Doc Rivers–led Milwaukee Bucks.
2. Joel Embiid
Ugh. After being a late scratch against the Denver Nuggets last Saturday, Embiid returned two games later against the Golden State Warriors and never looked quite right. Embiid left that game late and the Philadelphia 76ers announced Thursday that he has a meniscus injury in his left knee. With Embiid already in danger of being disqualified for this award because of the NBA’s 65-game rule, this latest injury could very well knock him out for good. If this is Embiid’s last appearance in these rankings, I can’t put him any lower than second because of his unbelievable level of dominance so far this season. Hopefully he’s good to go sooner rather than later.
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3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA has scored 30 points in eight straight games, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are one game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for first in the West. OKC also bounced back from a loss against said Wolves with a win over Denver this week, though Jokić did not play. If Embiid drops out of the race, SGA is going to have a great chance at winning his first MVP.
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4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
A couple of tough losses for the Bucks this week, who dropped Rivers’s first game as coach against Denver, then fell to the Portland Trail Blazers in Damian Lillard’s return. With regards to the coaching change in Milwaukee, I’m most curious to see if Rivers can salvage this team’s defense. A significant improvement on that end of the floor down the stretch could help Antetokounmpo’s MVP campaign.
Related: Lakers Quiet Trade Rumors With Win Over Celtics … for Now
5. Jayson Tatum
Embarrassing home loss to the LeBron James–and–Anthony Davis–less Los Angeles Lakers aside, the Boston Celtics remain the clear-cut No. 1 team in the NBA. Over the course of a back-to-back set Monday and Tuesday, Tatum recorded 58 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists in 77 minutes in two wins. Hard to be more reliable than that.
Honorable mentions: Luka Dončić, All-Star snub Domantas Sabonis
