NBA MVP Race Player Rankings: Luka Doncic finally breaks in

Who got snubbed this week?

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.

Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans

Brandon Ingram is the perfect example of a player whose team, the New Orleans Pelicans, isn’t going to be good enough to give him a shot at MVP candidacy. However, his play on the floor deserves recognition. He’s averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists to go with 1.8 blocks per game over the last four outings, and his Pelicans are 4-0 over that span.

Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks

It doesn’t get more automatic than Khris Middleton. The Milwaukee Bucks star keeps getting better every season, to the point where you have to wonder where the ceiling is for him. In his age-29 season, he’s shooting a career-high 52.1 percent from the floor, 44.8 percent from 3-point range and 93.8 percent from the free throw line while scoring a casual 20.8 points per game.

Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum has flirted with and around these rankings all season so far. His Boston Celtics just wrapped up a grueling West Coast road trip and have gone 2-3 in the past week, but he’s been solid as ever with averages of 26.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.

Rudy Gobert – Utah Jazz

The big man never gets enough credit on these contending teams, it seems, and we’d like to rectify that with Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz. After the Jazz got off to an understandable slow start, going 4-4 in their first eight games, they snapped to life and have ripped off a crazy winning run, going 16-1 in their past 17 games. Gobert’s defense has been a huge part of this as he’s averaging a career-high 2.7 blocks per game to go with 13.4 points and 13.5 rebounds.