Sixers: Joel Embiid has entered the MVP race

NBA MVP ladder (Tier 1)

TOP 5 MVP CANDIDATES 

• 5. Rudy Gobert
  • 15.5 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 70.6 FG%, 00.0 3P%, 68.3 FT%

I can already hear the groans from the audience, so let’s move quickly. Gobert is the most dominant individual defender in basketball and Utah is the third-best NBA team in terms of record, and even better in terms of advanced metrics. Gobert is the foundation of a very good, consistently dominant team.

• 4. Giannis Antetokounmpo 
  • 27.9 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 53.7 FG%, 27.1 3P%, 69.0 FT%

It doesn’t feel right to rank Giannis this low considering the kind of season he’s having. Such is life in the NBA, where the great players are truly great. Antetokounmpo is possibly the second most dominant individual defender in basketball, and he’s also one of the most dominant offensive players. The Bucks struggled with injuries out of the gate, but Giannis (and Milwaukee) have been rolling lately. He could easily be in the top-3 (or even top-1) by season’s end.

• 3. Nikola Jokic
  • 25.7 PPG, 14.2 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 56.4 FG%, 34.8 3P%, 77.6 FT%

Jokic was second place for me a week ago, and he could very well return to that spot soon. Unfortunately, the Nuggets are only .500 and the two players listed ahead of Jokic are ultra-special, all-time greats. Jokic has been carrying a lot of dead weight for the Nuggets this season. He is really the only good thing going for that team right now.

• 2. Kevin Durant 
  • 30.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 51.8 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 88.2 FT%

He’s Kevin Durant, the Nets are probably going to win the championship, and yeah, he’s Kevin Durant. Even in his advanced age, Durant is the greatest individual scorer on the planet, with an unguardable jump shot, improved playmaking instincts, and no discernible weakness in his game.

• 1. Stephen Curry
  • 26.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 42.0 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 91.7 FT%

Curry is having, by his standards, a poor shooting season. He’s below 40 percent from 3-point range, and his recent cold spell has been rather pronounced. It’s a testament to his absurd gravitational pull that he’s still a comfortable No. 1 on this list. The Warriors have run roughshod over the NBA this season, and Curry is the lifeblood of that team. He elevates everyone around him before he even touches the ball. It’s a treat to watch.