Top 5 NBA MVP Candidates (March 2021)
We’ve reached the all-star break, and let’s take a look at where the current MVP candidates stand with around 2 months left to go in the season.
5. LeBron James
Ranking last month: 4th
Per 36 stats:
26.9 PTS
8.4 REB
8.1 AST
57.2% eFG
59.7% TS
LeBron is still definitely in the race, but his case is going to be hurt after the Lakers lost 6 of their last 9 games with LeBron playing and Anthony Davis out. They have now fallen down to 4th in the West standings, but still hold a strong 24-13 overall record.
His 3-point percentage also has come skyrocketing down, and he has shot just 27.8% from deep since the start of February after being at 41.3% before that.
With that being said, he continues to be steady in putting up 25/8/8 every night, and we know the media will keep him in the race, so I don’t think you can count him out just yet.
4. Stephen Curry
Ranking last month: not ranked
Per 36 stats:
31.3 PTS
5.8 REB
6.7 AST
59.5% eFG
64.6% TS
Chef Curry is still cooking and has the Warriors right on the edge of the playoffs in the West. They’re 19-18 and are 9th in the West standings, and they’d currently be 4th in the East standings.
He has scored the most total points this season of anyone in the league, and is putting up numbers just slightly worse than his 2015-16 unanimous MVP season. I do believe that if Klay was healthy and the team was even higher up in the West standings, Curry would be one of the frontrunners for MVP.
Excluding last season when he only played 5 games, he has shot over 41% from three in every single season of his career. Not to mention 4 of those seasons (including this year) came with him attempting more than TEN threes per game. Appreciate Steph before he’s gone, because he is the best shooter ever.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ranking last month: not ranked
Per 36 stats:
30.7 PTS
12.4 REB
6.2 AST
58.6% eFG
61.8% TS
It was a remarkable February for Giannis, and he has become an MVP candidate once again. He averaged 31/12/6 on 56% FG in February, and his free throw percentage shot up to 75% compared to just 59% before that.
He isn’t going to end up winning the award, but he definitely deserves more recognition. It seems as though we are beginning to take this type of play from him for granted, but he has definitely been a top 3 overall player this year.
The advanced stats are once again showing his insane impact again this year, and he is back to being among the leaders in all of them. Even though he hasn’t been DPOY level on defense this year, he still is probably the best player in the world when you look at both offense and defense.
He won’t win it, but Giannis is a top 3 MVP candidate. Get used to it.
2. Nikola Jokic
Ranking last month: 2nd
Per 36 stats:
27.2 PTS
11.1 REB
8.6 AST
60.9% eFG
65.2% TS
Jokic continues to be incredible this season, averaging close to a triple double on 57/42/88 shooting. His efficiency has been off the charts, and he shot 46% from three in February. He has been arguably the best impactful offensive player in the entire league, and really I have no issue if you have him as your MVP right now.
The Nuggets are currently sitting at 6th in the West with a 21-15 record overall, and they went just 6-7 last month. For Jokic to end up being the MVP, Denver will need to win more than they have been and get up into the top 4 of the conference standings.
As I said last month, I do think he has probably been the best and most valuable player, but winning matters with the MVP award.
1. Joel Embiid
Ranking last month: 1st
Per 36 stats:
32.9 PTS
12.7 REB
3.6 AST
55.5% eFG
64.6% TS
Embiid is still my MVP as of right now. He has scored 40+ points in a game 5 times this year, and has more 40-point, 10-rebound games than the rest of the league combined. He had 50 against the Bulls on February 19th, 42 against the Cavs on February 27th, and just recently had 40 against the Jazz, including a game-tying three in the final seconds.
His shooting is still awesome — 42% from three and 51% from midrange — and it has made him pretty much unguardable this season. The Sixers also hold a slight lead over the Nets currently for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. If they can keep winning and end up being the top seed in the East, it will help Embiid’s case tremendously.
He is by no means the clear favorite, but for me, right now, Embiid is the MVP this season.
