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NBA Player Power Rankings: Mid-March MVP Rankings

By Maxwell Ogden

May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 8, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Position: Point Guard
Age: 31 (5/6/1985)
Experience: 12th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .473/.424/.869
2016-17 Season Averages: 31.4 MPG, 17.7 PPG, 9.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 2.1 3PM

Chris Paul has missed 21 games in 2016-17, but it would be irresponsible to state that 10 players have been better than him this season. He’s far and away the No. 1 player in Real Plus-Minus, with the No. 2 player checking in at a healthy 1.06 points per 100 possessions behind him.

RPM is far from the end-all, be-all, but Paul is easily one of the Top 10 players in the NBA—and neither public opinion souring on him nor his injury can change that.

With Kevin Durant and Kyle Lowry out due to severe injuries, Paul slides into the No. 9 spot. He’s the only player in the NBA who ranks in the Top 10 in Offensive and Defensive Real Plus-Minus, and has been the catalyst to just about everything Los Angeles has done well.

A facilitator in the purest sense of the word, Paul creates for his teammates by putting them in positions to succeed and setting a tone and standard for two-way execution.

This past week, Paul needed just 27 minutes to post 19 points and seven assists in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He followed with 30 points and seven assists on 11-of-16 shooting during a win over the Philadelphia 76ers, had 33 points and seven dimes against the Utah Jazz, and tallied 18 points and 14 assists against the Denver Nuggets.

Paul struggled against the Milwaukee Bucks, but his injury was all that kept him out of the Top 10—and his stellar play since returning has returned him.