The MVP race is winding down as the season is about to come to an end. The league has seen many great player performances this season, but the question remains of who will win the Kia MVP race.
At this point, the MVP race has narrowed to just two players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Who has the edge to claim the prestigious award? With the latest Kia MVP rankings released by the NBA, we now have a clear view of this year’s frontrunners.
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1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Previous Ranking: 1
Stats: 32.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists
The stats don’t tell the whole story. SGA not only dominates on the offensive end (he leads the league in scoring while shooting 52%), but his defensive game might be even better. He currently is averaging 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. SGA also has a defensive rating of 106.8, which is third best in the NBA this season.
SGA also leads the NBA in defensive win shares (DWS) with 4.8. The Oklahoma City Thunder star also leads the league in overall win shares (WS) with 16.4. Of course, SGA also has his Thunder sitting with the best record in the NBA at 64-12.
Is this enough for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to secure the MVP and win the lucrative Michael Jordan trophy?
2. Nikola Jokic
Previous Ranking: 2
Stats: 29.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.2 assists
What’s not to say about Nikola Jokic? The Serbian star recently put up a 61-point triple-double, which is the most points scored by a player recording such stat.
Jokic is averaging a triple-double on the season with averages of 29.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. If these averages hold, Jokic will become just the third player to average a triple-double for an entire season, joining teammate Russell Westbrook and NBA legend Oscar Robertson. It will also make Jokic the only center to achieve the feat.
Jokic is also dominating the advanced stats as well. He’s leading the NBA in player efficiency rating (PER) at 32.1, first in offensive win shares (OWS) at 11.9, leads box plus/minus (BPM) at 13.2, and he’s first in value over replacement player (VORP) at 9.1.
Jokic is clearly deserving of winning his fourth NBA MVP. But will the voters agree? As of now, Jokic’s Denver Nuggets have a record of 47-30, which is the third best out West. The difference in team records could be the edge that Gilgeous-Alexander needs to secure his first MVP.
The remainder of the top five Kia MVP candidates are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Stephen Curry. Despite all three of those players having great seasons, they have no realistic shot at winning the MVP award.
It’s a two man race for the MVP and it will be exciting to see if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can dethrone Nikola Jokic for the MVP award. It sure will be an exciting finish to the NBA season.
