Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA MVP Race Player Rankings: Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic vie for No. 1

By Duncan Smith

Mar 26, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the third quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won the game 123-104. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the third quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won the game 123-104. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
NBA
NBA Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Who got snubbed in this week’s NBA MVP Race Player Rankings?

Before we get to the real meat of these rankings, let’s go over the players just on the outside looking in at the top 10. Each of these players are just a lucky (or unlucky) break away from getting into these player rankings.

Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks

Whatever was bugging Trae Young seems to have gotten out of his system over the past couple of weeks. After a dreadful start to 2021, he’s gotten himself back to his usual flamethrower self for the Atlanta Hawks. Over the past week, he’s fourth in scoring at 33.0 points per game with shooting splits of .462/.429/.941. He might be a top candidate to break into the top 10 in the next week or so.

Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum has had a pretty good statistical week but his Boston Celtics went 0-2 which is a mark against him in these rankings (just ask Luka Doncic how we view losing around here). Tatum and teammate Jaylen Brown have had a “your turn-my turn” experience in these rankings, perpetually bouncing around the snubs and middle-tier of the top 10.

Chris Paul – Phoenix Suns

The way things look right now, Chris Paul might be better served in the top 10 than in the ranks of the snubs. He’s been on an incredible run for the Phoenix Suns and is a certainty to crack into the big leagues here if this keeps up. In the past week, his team is 3-1 and he’s averaging 27.0 points, 7.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds on .556/.450/.950 shooting.

Kyrie Irving – Brooklyn Nets

It’s probably too early to put Kyrie Irving this close to the top 10 after his recent sojourn, but for the most part, players don’t get into those ranks without a stop in the purgatory of the snubs. So this is official notice that Kyrie Irving has our attention with a week of scoring 25.7 points per game, although his Brooklyn Nets are going to need more points than that if they plan to continue having the worst defense in NBA history.