Kia NBA MVP Race: Latest MVP ladder and power rankings feat. Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and more | Dec. 9, 2022-23 NBA Season
The 2022-2023 NBA MVP race shifted last week with stars like Steph Curry, Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum having down weeks.
Meanwhile, some familiar faces continued to put up monster numbers.
On that note, here’s the latest edition of this season's MVP ladder.
#5 Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets
Previous week’s MVP ranking: 4th (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 1, Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 22, Games won - 14, Games lost - 8
Last Week: PPG - 27.0, RPG - 11.0, APG - 8.5, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.5
Overall: PPG - 23.5, RPG - 10.0, APG - 8.9, SPG - 1.2, BPG - 0.6
Last Week: FG% - 61.1%, 3PT% - 31.3%, FT% - 60.0%
Overall: FG% - 62.5%, 3PT% - 32.1%, FT% - 80.1%.
The Denver Nuggets only went 1-3 last week. However, reigning back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic still did his thing, finishing with 30 or more points in two of four games and a double-double in three games.
Jokic also shot above 53.0% in all four games and came close to a triple-double in all of those games as well.
For the season, Jokic is now averaging close to a 23-point triple-double on 62.5% shooting. Denver is 15-10 and fourth in the Western Conference. However, the Nuggets are 14-8 in the games that Jokic has played in.
#4 Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous week’s MVP ranking: N/A
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 2, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 23, Games won - 15, Games lost - 8
Last Week: PPG - 33.3, RPG - 4.0, APG - 3.7, SPG - 1.7, BPG - 0.7
Overall: PPG - 29.0, RPG - 4.0, APG - 4.9, SPG - 1.5, BPG - 0.4
Last Week: FG% - 52.9%, 3PT% - 43.3%, FT% - 92.9%
Overall: FG% - 49.6%, 3PT% - 42.4%, FT% - 89.0%.
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell had a very strong week. Mitchell averaged over 30 points per game (33.3 PPG) on a 50/40/90 shooting split (52.9/43.3/92.9) over three games.
His week was highlighted by a season-high 43-point performance versus the LA Lakers, where he also racked up six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Following their 2-1 week, the Cavs are 16-9 and third in the Eastern Conference.
#3 Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks
Previous week’s MVP ranking: N/A
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 3, Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 23, Games won - 13, Games lost - 10
Last Week: PPG - 28.3, RPG - 8.0, APG - 9.0, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 2.0
Overall: PPG - 32.9, RPG - 8.6, APG - 8.7, SPG - 1.7, BPG - 0.7
Last Week: FG% - 48.3%, 3PT% - 44.4%, FT% - 85.0%
Overall: FG% - 50.3%, 3PT% - 34.8%, FT% - 72.4%.
Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic’s scoring was a little down last week (28.3 PPG), but he shot much better from 3-point land (44.4%).
He also led the Mavs to a perfect 3-0 week with wins over the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets. Doncic finished with 30 or more points in two of three games and had a 22-point triple-double in the other. He also racked up six blocks over three games.
Doncic remains the league’s leading scorer this season at 32.9 points per game. Meanwhile, Dallas is now back in the playoff picture at 13-11 and seventh in the Western Conference. As always, Doncic’s team record continues to hold him back from the top two spots in the MVP race.
#2 Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics
Previous week’s MVP ranking: 1st (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 3, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 25, Games won - 20, Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 24.8, RPG - 10.0, APG - 2.3, SPG - 1.8, BPG - 0.3
Overall: PPG - 30.5, RPG - 8.2, APG - 4.1, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 1.0
Last Week: FG% - 43.8%, 3PT% - 35.5%, FT% - 78.3%
Overall: FG% - 48.0%, 3PT% - 36.5%, FT% - 86.3%.
Boston Celtics superstar forward Jayson Tatum had a bit of a down week.
He wasn’t the Celtics’ leading scorer as co-star Jaylen Brown led the way with 29.5 points per game through four games. However, Tatum still scored 20 or more points in three of four games and finished with three double-doubles.
His week was highlighted by a 31-point, 12-rebound performance in a win over the Toronto Raptors.
Tatum is also still averaging a career-high 30.5 points per game this season and has helped lead the Celtics to a league-best 21-5 record.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks
Previous week’s MVP ranking: 2nd (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 2, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 20, Games won - 15, Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 36.3, RPG - 8.7, APG - 5.7, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 1.0
Overall: PPG - 32.1, RPG - 11.1, APG - 5.6, SPG - 0.9, BPG - 1.0
Last Week: FG% - 63.5%, 3PT% - 44.4%, FT% - 78.1%
Overall: FG% - 54.8%, 3PT% - 26.2%, FT% - 63.1%.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been absolutely dominating the league as of late. Antetokounmpo scored 34 or more points in all three games last week to extend his 30-point game streak to eight games.
Antetokounmpo also shot above 57.0% in all three games. His week was highlighted by a 40-point performance on 69.6% shooting in a close 133-129 loss to the LA Lakers.
Antetokounmpo is now second in the NBA in scoring this season at 32.1 points per game. He is also closing in on Doncic for the top spot (32.9 PPG).
Meanwhile, Milwaukee is now 18-6, the second-best record in the league. The Bucks' form, combined with Antetokounmpo’s dominant scoring run, earns him the top spot in this week’s MVP ladder.
For last week's MVP ladder, click here.
Also read: Kia NBA ROTY Race: Latest ROTY ladder and power rankings feat. Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams and more | Dec. 7, 2022-23 NBA Season