NBA MVP Race Player Rankings: Luka Doncic finally breaks in

Since last rank: 32.7 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 8.0 APG

Shooting splits: .520/.500/.933

This NBA thing is a video game for Nikola Jokic. His stats look barely possible, his passes appear to be preternatural with clairvoyance and execution that defy belief. There’s never been anybody quite like him in this league and probably won’t be again.

Unfortunately, too often, the Denver Nuggets look like frauds alongside him. Spectacular efforts game after game get squandered, like a 50 point, 12 assist, eight-rebound, three-block performance against the Sacramento Kings on February 6th that ended up in a five-point loss. The Nuggets can turn things around and go on a Utah Jazz-like winning streak, but right now they’re 12-11 and Nikola Jokic deserves so much better.

Since last rank: 32.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Shooting splits: .554/.286/.915

It’s a weekly occurrence right now. The cast of characters in our top 10 shift and change, but the constant is Joel Embiid at No. 1. And deservedly so. He’s got his Philadelphia 76ers at the top of the Eastern Conference with an 18-7 record, and they’ve swiftly shed their label of disappointing underachievers.

Embiid is the heartbeat and lifeblood of this team, and he would be the deserving MVP of the NBA if the season ended today. Fortunately, it does not, but he has a solid lead over the field and rightly so.