Quarter-season NBA Awards ballot: Philadelphia 76ers earning consideration

MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

3. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

Widely considered an MVP favorite coming into the season, Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t disappointed. The Bucks are a new beast under the guidance of Mike Budenholzer, spacing the floor and allowing Giannis to dominate the painted area.

Using unrivaled length, power and athleticism, Antetokounmpo has been virtually unstoppable on drives to the rim. He’s taking 66 percent of his shots at the rim, according to Cleaning The Glass, and finishing at a 78 percent clip.

With Brook Lopez, Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton opening up the floor, Giannis has more room than ever to attack the interior and exploit mismatches. That also leaves more opportunities for him to showcase his passing chops, averaging a career-high 6.0 assists per game.

The Bucks are currently tied for second place, and Milwaukee would need to continue on a 50+ win pace to earn Giannis legitimate MVP consideration. Assuming the Bucks don’t fall off, though, Antetokounmpo is a strong bet for the league’s most prestigious award.

As for the Sixers, Embiid is a strong second at this point in the campaign. Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and James Harden all deserve shouts, but Embiid’s offensive usage and defensive impact give him the slight edge.