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NBA Player Power Rankings: MVP Candidates Continue To Clash

By Maxwell Ogden

January 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 18, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

16. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 27 (8/7/1989)
Experience: 8th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .475/.241/.848
2016-17 Season Averages: 35.5 MPG, 28.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.2 SPG

The Toronto Raptors are one of the league’s elite teams and DeMar DeRozan is the go-to scorer. He may not play the game in the most analytically savvy way, but games are won by scoring more points than the other team.

To leave DeRozan out of the Top 20 in the midst of a dominant scoring season on a contender would be asinine.

DeRozan had another spectacular week for the 28-14 Toronto Raptors. He dropped 28 points in a 132-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets and had 23 points, five assists, and five rebounds in just 28 minutes during a 116-101 victory over the New York Knicks.

DeRozan then dropped 36 points, 11 rebounds, and six dimes during a 119-109 win over Brooklyn, and 25 points and six assists against the Philadelphia 76ers.

DeRozan ranks in the Top 5 in scoring average and he’s doing so on one of the Top 5 teams in the NBA. Kyle Lowry may be Toronto’s MVP, but the Raptors wouldn’t be where they are without DeRozan.

Whether or not you approve of his reluctance to shoot 3-point field goals, DeRozan is one of the Top 20 players in the NBA.