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NBA MVP Ladder Week 24: A new name enters the fray

By Michael Shearer

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 29: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards as Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 29: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards as Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks guard James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, NBA MVP Ladder Week 24: A new name enters the fray. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Week 24 NBA MVP Ladder: 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Rank last week: 2

Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks: 29.9/11.6/5.8/1.0/1.5

FG%/3P%/FT%: 55.2/30.1/72.2

Off EPM / Def EPM: +6.2/+1.2

Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a strong statement about MVP with his late-season play. In the matchup against Embiid on Tuesday, Giannis outplayed his fellow contender (who had a good game of his own!) by a substantial margin. He dropped 40, dunked on Embiid’s head, and had a game-saving block against Joel in the final seconds that felt like a literal and metaphorical win:

Giannis is comfortably the best defender out of the three big men vying for MVP, and he will receive consideration for Defensive Player of the Year again. Last season’s Finals MVP performance has validated him as an all-time great, which may give him a little protection from voters who would otherwise be leery of giving him a historic third MVP trophy.

The Bucks haven’t really had one massive run this season. Instead, they have unevenly made their way to second in the East over time, and now they stand just a half-game behind Miami for the top seed. If Milwaukee ends up with the top seed (which is no sure thing, with four teams within 1.5 games of the top), Giannis’ case for a third MVP will be impossible to ignore.

16 of the past 22 MVPs have been on one-seeded teams. If the Bucks do manage to claim the Eastern Conference for the third time in four years, Giannis may be the bridge between old-school win-obsessives and new-school stats aficionados.