BOBBLEHEAD SPORTS

The All-Star Break has arrived, which means it’s time to take a look at my top 5 MVP Candidates so far this season.

*Note: Joel Embiid has missed more than 17 games, making him ineligible for any awards.

5. Kawhi Leonard

Stats: 24.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Kawhi Leonard has been flying under the MVP Radar this season. His box score stats are underwhelming, but he has been shooting 52.7% from the field and 45.3% from deep. Couple that with being one of the league’s best defenders, as well as leading the Clippers to a 36-17 record, he’s making a strong case for MVP.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Stats: 30.8 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Death, Taxes, and Giannis being an MVP candidate. He’s having another amazing season, shooting a career high 61.6% from the field and leading the Bucks to a 35-21 record. The addition of Dame has done little to affect his scoring, and he’ll be a key player to watch after the All Star Break.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Stats: 31.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG

SGA finished 5th in MVP voting last year, and is making an even better case this year. With a career high 58% FG shooting, 6.5 Assists and 2.2 Steals (also leads the league), he is having a career year. He is also averaging 0.6 less turnovers and has led the Thunder to a 37-17 record, 2nd best in the Western Conference.

2. Nikola Jokic

Stats: 26.1 PPG, 12 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Averaging a near Triple-Double for the 4th straight season, what else is new? Inarguably the greatest player of the decade so far, he could be on the way to his 3rd MVP in 4 years. Although his efficiency and assist numbers have dipped since last year, they are still elite, and so are the Nuggets. They are sitting at 36-19, good for 4th in the west. He’s still not my number 1 pick though…

1. Luka Doncic

Stats: 34.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 SPG

You see the stats. He’s been unstoppable all season, including his incredible 73 point game against the Hawks. Averaging a career high in Points, Assists, Steals, 3PT% and FT%, he’s somehow still improving. Although the Mavericks are currently 7th in the Western Conference with a record of 32-23, they are 2 games out from 5th and 7th games back from the 1 seed. If Luka keeps these ridiculous performances up, the Mavs can reach a top 4 seed, cementing Luka as the 2024 MVP.