NBA MVP Race Player Rankings: It’s Damian Lillard Time for the Blazers

Jan 28, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA
NBA Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Since last rank: 25.8 PPG, 11.6 APG, 9.0 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.2 SPG

Shooting splits: .538/.462/1.000

James Harden makes his deepest push into the MVP rankings so far this season thanks to a fantastic throwback week. In spite of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both missing time, Harden led the Brooklyn Nets to a 4-1 week on the strength of his scoring, playmaking, and even some opportunistic defense.

It took some time for Harden to find his footing with the Nets, but now it surely seems like he’s hit his stride. With the likely continued inconsistent availability of Durant and Irving, the one thing you can expect is that James Harden will continue to be a productive ironman.

Since last rank: 33.8 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.3 RPG

Shooting splits: .585/.469/.889

Stephen Curry is on a spectacular shooting and scoring run, even by his standards. He started the season ice-cold from 3-point range, but after some time we got back the Steph of old. The Golden State Warriors are the epitome of a team that can’t get over the hump as they keep hitting the .500-plus-two mark and then losing to drop back down, but Curry can’t be faulted for that one.

Eventually, if he keeps this production up, it stands to reason that the Warriors will indeed break through and make a run. Fingers crossed that he does, and they do.