He’s still getting better. Joel Embiid can now beat defenses, comfortably, from anywhere on the floor. His mid-range jumper is money, he can still bully anyone ill-fated enough to meet him in the paint, and he’s better than ever at leveraging the attention he draws to create for teammates. It would be nice if the defensive intensity was more consistent, but he’s on the shortlist of best rim protectors in the NBA when he’s engaged.
The NBA’s best one-man show, Luka Doncic is carrying the Mavs on his shoulders right now. It would be nice for Dallas to get him more help, but frankly, Doncic looks comfortable as the center of attention. His change-of-speed ability and live-dribble cleverness, combined with the strength to bump defenders off their spot, make Doncic uniquely challenging to stay in front of. If he’s not scoring, then he can make every pass in the book.
The greatest shooter we’ve ever seen, and so much more than that, Stephen Curry’s stardom feels timeless. With his skill level, intelligence, and selflessness, it’s hard to imagine him ever dropping off the map. No player can keep a defense so occupied without touching the ball. When he does touch the ball, Curry is more than capable of the old-fashioned superstar iso bucket. He elevates everyone around him and he’s efficient to the extreme.
The two-time reigning MVP is very quietly mounting a strong case for No. 3 — even if I have my doubts about voters seriously considering it given historical precedent. Jokic can still bend and break defenses with his mind. There’s no more creative passer in the sport. The list of superior scorers is short too: he’s hyper-efficient from everywhere on the floor, perhaps less keen to force shots than some of his top-five counterparts but equally capable of taking over when the game script demands it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t necessarily a “lock” here — Jokic, Curry, Doncic, Embiid, Tatum, Durant all have quantifiable cases — he’s kind of… undeniable. No player can impose his will by sheer physical force like Giannis. He can bulldoze right through the NBA’s strongest defenders, he can punish fast-collapsing defenses with his passing, and the jumper is slowly but surely expanding every year. All that, and he might win another DPOY trophy or two before his career ends, for good measure.