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NBA Player Power Rankings: Who’s The Leader For MVP After December?

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; A fan holds a Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) MVP sign as the Rockets play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 118 to 116. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; A fan holds a Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) MVP sign as the Rockets play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 118 to 116. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Utah Jazz guard / forward Gordon Hayward (20) controls the ball during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Utah Jazz guard / forward Gordon Hayward (20) controls the ball during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz

Position: Small Forward
Age: 26 (3/23/1990)
Experience: 7th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .455/.368/.878
2016-17 Season Averages: 35.1 MPG, 22.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.9 3PM

The Utah Jazz have two players who could easily make this list: center Rudy Gobert and small forward Gordon Hayward. Gobert is a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year and Hayward is the closer and primary playmaker.

After years of being underrated, Hayward is playing at a level that should earn him a long-awaited All-Star Game appearance.

Hayward missed five games, but he’s re-established himself as the best player on the Jazz. Gobert could receive that title due to the fact that he’s the anchor of a defensive-minded team, but Hayward’s level of play seems to be improving every time out.

Hayward is not only the closer in Utah, but the player who paces the offense through the full four quarters with his dynamic execution.

Hayward began this past week by scoring seven fourth quarter points in a five-point win over the Phoenix Suns. He then tallied 30 points in a win over the Brooklyn Nets, had 23 against the Boston Celtics, and admittedly struggled to reach an efficient 16 against the Toronto Raptors.

Gobert made this list the previous two weeks, but Hayward has earned his status as a Top 20 player with his well-rounded play.