Kia NBA MVP Race: Latest MVP ladder and power rankings feat. Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic and more |Dec. 16, 2022-23 NBA Season
The 2022-2023 NBA MVP race keeps getting more crowded with a new face entering the mix for the first time this season.
Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic just misses the cut this week as Dallas sits just 9th (14-14) in the Western Conference.
On that note, here’s this week's MVP ladder.
#5: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous week’s MVP ranking: 4th (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 2, Games won - 1, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 25, Games won - 16, Games lost - 9
Last Week: PPG - 31.0, RPG - 4.0, APG - 2.5, SPG - 0.5, BPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 29.2, RPG - 4.0, APG - 4.7, SPG - 1.4, BPG - 0.4
Last Week: FG% - 56.8%, 3PT% - 50.0%, FT% - 100.0%
Overall: FG% - 50.2%, 3PT% - 42.9%, FT% - 89.3%
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell only played in two games last week. Mitchell scored 28 points in a tough last-second loss to San Antonio. He then followed that up with a 34-point performance, with six made 3-pointers on 65.0% shooting in a win over Dallas. Cleveland is now 11-3 when Mitchell scores at least 30 and 5-6 when he scores less than 30.
#4: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
Previous week’s MVP ranking: N/A
Last Week: Games played - 2, Games won - 2, Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 28, Games won - 16, Games lost - 12
Last Week: PPG - 32.0, RPG - 6.5, APG - 5.0, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 1.5
Overall: PPG - 30.0, RPG - 6.7, APG - 5.5, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 1.7
Last Week: FG% - 59.5%, 3PT% - 38.5%, FT% - 100.0%
Overall: FG% - 55.9%, 3PT% - 34.6%, FT% - 92.2%
Brooklyn Nets superstar forward Kevin Durant has had the most efficient scoring season of his career. Durant finished with 30-or-more points in wins over Washington and Atlanta last week. Following those two games, he is now averaging 30.0 points per game on a career-high 55.9% shooting.
Brooklyn has also won four straight games to improve to 17-12 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. So the Nets’ team surge combined with Durant’s efficient two-way play got him a spot on this week’s MVP ladder.
#3: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Previous week’s MVP ranking: 5th (↑2)
Last Week: Games played - 2, Games won - 2, Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 24, Games won - 16, Games lost - 8
Last Week: PPG - 37.0, RPG - 13.0, APG - 11.0, SPG - 3.0, BPG - 2.5
Overall: PPG - 24.6, RPG - 10.3, APG - 9.0, SPG - 1.4, BPG - 0.8
Last Week: FG% - 70.0%, 3PT% - 16.7%, FT% - 85.0%
Overall: FG% - 63.4%, 3PT% - 30.5%, FT% - 80.8%
Reigning back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic also only played in two games last week. However, he was still incredibly dominant, finishing with a 31-point triple with four blocks in a win over Utah. He followed that up with a season-high 43 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and five steals on 85.0% shooting in a win over Washington. For the season, Jokic is now shooting a career-best 63.4% while being a nightly triple-double threat.
#2: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Previous week’s MVP ranking: 1st (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 2, Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 24, Games won - 17, Games lost - 7
Last Week: PPG - 23.3, RPG - 11.5, APG - 4.3, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.8
Overall: PPG - 30.6, RPG - 11.1, APG - 5.3, SPG - 0.9, BPG - 1.0
Last Week: FG% - 40.8%, 3PT% - 25.0%, FT% - 60.9%
Overall: FG% - 52.7%, 3PT% - 26.0%, FT% - 62.8%
After scoring 30-or-more points in eight straight games, Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled over the past week. Antetokounmpo scored under 30 in three of four games and shot just 40.8% through four games. Milwaukee also went just 2-2 including a disappointing loss to Houston and a 41-point blowout loss to Memphis yesterday.
Antetokounmpo is still averaging a 30-point double-double on the season with Milwaukee having the second-best record in the league at 20-8. However, Antetokounmpo’s rough week still moves him down a spot on this week’s MVP ladder.
#1: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Previous week’s MVP ranking: 2nd (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 1, Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 28, Games won - 21, Games lost - 7
Last Week: PPG - 27.3, RPG - 9.0, APG - 4.0, SPG - 1.3, BPG - 0.7
Overall: PPG - 30.2, RPG - 8.3, APG - 4.1, SPG - 1.1, BPG - 1.0
Last Week: FG% - 40.0%, 3PT% - 33.3%, FT% - 81.0%
Overall: FG% - 47.0%, 3PT% - 36.2%, FT% - 85.8%
Like Antetokounmpo, Boston Celtics superstar forward Jayson Tatum had a rough start last week. Tatum shot a combined 13-for-41 (31.7%) in two blowout losses to Golden State and the LA Clippers. However, Tatum redeemed himself in his last game against the LA Lakers. Tatum finished with 44 points, nine rebounds and six assists on 51.7% shooting as the Celtics grinded out a victory in overtime.
For the season, Tatum is still averaging a career-high 30.2 points per game while leading Boston to a league-best 22-7 record. However, he will need to regain some consistency if he hopes to hold off the other top contenders for MVP.
For last week's MVP ladder, click here.
Also read: Kia NBA ROTY Race: Latest ROTY ladder and power rankings feat. Paolo Banchero, Keegan Murray, and more | Dec. 14, 2022-23 NBA Season