NBA Power Rankings: Every team's MVP at the midway point

The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore’s basketball editors.

This week, we’re identifying one MVP for each team at the midway point of the 2023-24 campaign.

1. Boston Celtics (32-9)

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Jayson Tatum. For the fourth straight year, Tatum is averaging at least 26 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game on 45% from the field or better. He’s a model of consistency on a perennial contender.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves (29-11)

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Anthony Edwards. He’s only 22, and Edwards’ 26 points per game would be the third-highest scoring average in T-Wolves history, trailing just Kevin Love (26.1 PPG in 2013-14) and Karl-Anthony Towns (26.5 PPG in 2019-20).

3. Milwaukee Bucks (28-13)

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Damian Lillard. Although franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging a career high for points, Lillard’s spacing and star power as a bona fide 1B option has lifted the Bucks back into the title contender conversation.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (27-13)

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Forget his team. The Thunder star has a legitimate case to be the NBA’s MVP this season. Gilgeous-Alexander is again among the league leaders in scoring and has been exceptional in clutch situations.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (26-14)

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Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers wing has managed to stay healthy and is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Leonard ranks third in the Association in steals (61) and 11th in 3-point percentage (44.1%).

6. Philadelphia 76ers (26-13)

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Joel Embiid. The 7-footer reaffirmed his immense value to the 76ers earlier this week with a 41-point, 10-rebound performance following a three-game injury absence. Philadelphia is just 3-7 this season when Embiid sits.

7. Denver Nuggets (28-14)

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Nikola Jokic. The Serbian superstar is in the hunt for a third MVP. Jokic’s play kept the Nuggets afloat during Jamal Murray’s absence, and he could become just the third player to average a triple-double over an entire campaign.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (24-15)

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Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell has kept Cleveland afloat without co-stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for an extended stretch, setting a career-high mark in assists with 5.8 to go along with his usual scoring prowess.

9. Miami Heat (24-17)

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Bam Adebayo. Where would the Heat be without Bam? The versatile big has been a mainstay in Miami’s lineup amid a season of constant injuries, keeping the squad afloat near the top of the East.

10. New Orleans Pelicans (25-17)

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Brandon Ingram. Ingram has carried the offensive load, while New Orleans has dealt with injuries. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 21.4 points per game and leads the Pelicans in usage rate and assist percentage.

11. Dallas Mavericks (24-18)

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Luka Doncic. Kyrie Irving missing 16 games has forced Doncic to carry the load for the Mavericks. Only Joel Embiid has a higher usage rate than the Slovenian, who’s averaging a career-best 33.6 points per game.

12. New York Knicks (24-17)

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Jalen Brunson. Brunson is the engine of this Knicks offense. The diminutive guard is leading New York in scoring with 25.9 points per game and is 13th in the NBA with 251 total assists.

13. Sacramento Kings (23-17)

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De’Aaron Fox. The All-Star guard has taken his game to another level this season. Fox’s improved outside shooting and blazing speed have made him one of the NBA’s top scorers.

14. Indiana Pacers (23-17)

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Tyrese Haliburton. This one’s too easy. The 23-year-old has been so fantastic this season that he’s pushed the Pacers’ timeline up far enough to take a swing on Pascal Siakam in hopes of making a playoff push.

15. Phoenix Suns (22-18)

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Kevin Durant. At age 35, the two-time Finals MVP hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Durant is averaging nearly 30 points and shooting a career-high 47.1% from deep.

16. Orlando Magic (22-19)

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Paolo Banchero. The future is bright in Orlando. The second-year forward is averaging a team-high 22.9 points per game for a Magic squad on track to reach its first postseason berth since 2020.

17. Utah Jazz (22-20)

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Lauri Markkanen. It’s no coincidence the Jazz’s season turned upon the Finnish sharpshooter’s return. Utah has won 11 of its past 13 games, with Markkanen averaging 25 points while shooting 42.2% from deep.

18. Los Angeles Lakers (21-21)

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Anthony Davis. The former No. 1 overall pick is arguably having his best season with the purple and gold. AD has been a dominant interior presence, providing the Lakers with elite post-up production and rim protection.

19. Houston Rockets (19-21)

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Fred VanVleet. Fred VanVleet has been the calming primary ballhandler this team needed. Houston went from averaging the second-most turnovers per game (16.2) in 2022-23 to the seventh-least (12.9) in 2023-24.

20. Chicago Bulls (19-23)

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Coby White. The 23-year-old averaged 22.4 points over the 17 games Zach LaVine missed, a big reason the Bulls surprisingly stayed afloat while an injury sidelined their star guard.

21. Golden State Warriors (18-22)

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Stephen Curry. With everything going wrong for the Warriors, they can still count on Curry. Averaging more than 25 points for the fourth straight campaign, Golden State has to do right by its star player.

22. Brooklyn Nets (16-24)

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Mikal Bridges. Bridges isn’t living up to the lofty 26.1 points he averaged after being shipped off to Brooklyn last season, but he’s still flourishing in a much larger role than he had with the Suns.

23. Atlanta Hawks (17-23)

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Trae Young. Despite the Hawks’ underwhelming performance this season, Young has been stellar, averaging 27.2 points and a career-high 10.9 assists. Atlanta’s star either needs new teammates or a new squad.

24. Toronto Raptors (16-25)

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Scottie Barnes. The Raptors clearly believe Barnes is their best player, shipping off OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam to make way for a youth movement in Toronto. Barnes has earned the title this season, setting career highs in nearly every counting stat.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (15-25)

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Jaren Jackson Jr. While Ja Morant and Desmond Bane have led the team in scoring this season, both are sidelined for lengthy periods. Jackson is averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game.

26. Portland Trail Blazers (11-29)

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Jerami Grant. Availability is the best ability for the Blazers. Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, DeAndre Ayton, Malcolm Brogdon, and Scoot Henderson all have significant absences, leaving Grant as the team’s MVP. Congrats.

27. San Antonio Spurs (7-33)

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Victor Wembanyama. Wemby leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks, and free-throw attempts, and his true shooting percentage jumped to 63.3% in January from 53.9 in December. He’s only beginning to scratch the surface.

28. Washington Wizards (7-32)

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Kyle Kuzma. Even bad teams have MVPs. In the Wizards’ case, it’s Kuzma – the only player on the roster averaging more than 20 points per game. He also isn’t Jordan Poole, which helps.

29. Charlotte Hornets (8-30)

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LaMelo Ball. Charlotte’s 5-13 record with Ball doesn’t sound great, but the Hornets went 3-17 when he was out with an ankle injury. This team is a disaster without him.

30. Detroit Pistons (4-37)

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Cade Cunningham. The former No. 1 pick has been the Pistons’ lone consistent weapon. Cunnigham’s posted a team-high 22.8 points per game and 7.2 assists (10th in the NBA) – an impressive playmaking return for someone on a truly horrendous team.