With one-fourth of the NBA season gone, featuring highly competitive matchups in each conference, the MVP race has also heated up to unprecedented levels. The top contenders look similar to last year, with the best player in the NBA right now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leading the pack. But players like Cade Cunningham and Giannis Antetokounmpo are showing why they could be dark horses.
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The race will only get tighter as the games start to become more important. That is when you see the Mamba Mentality break through and superstars put their definitive stamps during make-or-break moments.
However, if the season ended today, there are clear choices for MVP frontrunners, according to Rachel Nichols. The analyst shared her picks on a recent video on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel.
“Obviously, Shai and [Nikola] Jokic. I think Luka [Doncic] at the moment,” stated Nichols, naming her top three. She then explained how Doncic’s improved defense is a big reason for his high ranking, on top of his elite scoring from years past.
“He’s leading the league in scoring. He’s averaging nearly a triple-double. Defense has actually been solid. He’s had a 5-steal game and a pair of 4-steal games in a season that is still relatively young,” added Nichols.
The performance shows how Doncic had accepted the criticisms from last season and made sure he stepped up his game on he defensive side.
As the convo shifted, Nichols revealed that her top pick is the reigning champion. “The top of my list is Shai,” she said, before justifying her choice.
“You have a guy who has sat out nine 4th quarters over 16 games, which basically means that all the stats we talk about him with, he’s doing in so many fewer minutes. He’s scoring a point a minute,” explained Nichols, before reminding the viewers that Gilgeous-Alexander was putting up these wild numbers by mainly sinking 2s.
“He’s not a volume 3-point shooter to get that point a minute, so that’s also a factor into this. He’s scored less than 30 only three times this season,” added Nichols.
And the Thunder‘s record shows exactly how impactful the Canadian superstar is. The defending champs are 17-1 and riding a nine-game winning streak. They are making last season’s dominant run look pedestrian.
The MVP race, however, feels like it is setting up for a photo finish, even this early. The stars at the top are playing out of their minds, and the numbers get louder every night.
But with three quarters of the season still ahead, anything can change in a week. One thing is certain: This MVP race is already must-watch TV.
