NBA MVP rankings: Crowded field muddies Embiid's chance at repeat
We’re just over the campaign’s one-month mark, and multiple MVP hopefuls are already fleshing out impressive cases for the 2023-24 Michael Jordan Trophy, including last season’s winner, Joel Embiid. However, the early competition is intense, with a couple of fresh faces mixing it up with the usual contenders.
10. LeBron James, Lakers
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 55.9 | 38.5 | 69.1 | 8 | 6.6 | 25.5 |
James’ early contributions to the Lakers shouldn’t be overlooked because it’s what we’ve come to expect from the 20-year NBA star. His shot attempts per game are slightly down from last season, but his efficiency has skyrocketed. James is hitting 55.9% of his field goals and owns a 64.8% true shooting percentage, eclipsing everything he’s done over a full season since his final year in Miami.
But it’s in crunch time when James has most shined this season. The 38-year-old is averaging 9.6 fourth-quarter points, the best output across the league.
9. Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 46.6 | 37.0 | 87.6 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 26.6 |
The Timberwolves had never been atop the West after their first 15 games of a season until this year. Their 11-4 record is the franchise’s best-ever start, and Edwards’ continued ascendance is largely why. He’s taken another sizable step toward superstardom, perhaps partly spurred by his experience with Team USA over the summer.
Edwards’ confidence has looked justifiably higher than ever despite a career-high 31.5% usage rate. Lineup info can still be spotty this early in the season, but Minnesota’s net rating is minus-10.2 when Edwards is off the court. For context, nobody else sends the team into the negatives when they sit. With all due respect to Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, Edwards has become the focal piece in Minnesota, and the Timberwolves are better for it.
8. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 50.8 | 45.4 | 91.9 | 3.9 | 12.1 | 25.4 |
Outside of Nikola Jokic, there may not be a better offensive player in basketball than Haliburton. There could be an entire article written on the rarity of his unprecedented counting stats, so we’ll just give the highlights: 25.4 points per game with a league-leading 12.1 assists, all while easily surpassing the illustrious 50/40/90 marks by hitting 50.8% of his field goals, 45.4% of his threes, and 91.9% of his free throws.
Who cares about defense or the Pacers being in the middle of the pack? Having one of the best passing and shooting campaigns in league history is an unfathomable early-season achievement.
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 59.4 | 22.6 | 63.3 | 10.6 | 4.6 | 29.9 |
The Bucks are heating up, and so is Antetokounmpo, hitting a remarkable near-60% of his field goals, the best mark of his career. Though his shooting percentage puts him a mere eighth league-wide, he’s taken over 100 more shots than anyone placed ahead of him.
Despite his assist numbers being down thanks to the addition of All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, Antetokounmpo still ranks in the top 12 in both points and assists per game. As the Dame-Giannis duo continues to gain more steam, so will Antetokounmpo’s MVP chances.
6. Luka Doncic, Mavericks
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 48.7 | 39.4 | 76.5 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 30.5 |
The Mavericks needed a strong start from Doncic, and they’re getting all that and more. After a 33-point triple-double to open the campaign against the Spurs, he dissected the Nets with a 49-point outburst (falling three assists shy of yet another triple-double). Doncic scored fewer than 26 points in just four of his 16 games, and one of those was a 21-point rout by the Pelicans that he played just 26 minutes before checking out.
The interesting factor in Doncic’s case will be how he’s assessed with help from Kyrie Irving. The Slovenian’s MVP candidacy has been hurt in the past thanks to the Mavericks falling well short of expectations. With Dallas looking like a much more well-rounded team so far, having a co-star like Irving may help Doncic’s candidacy.
5. Jayson Tatum, Celtics
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 49.4 | 36.7 | 80.2 | 8.9 | 4.1 | 28.1 |
Being the best player on the best team in the league deserves near-immediate inclusion on our MVP list, and that’s exactly what Tatum’s been this year for the 12-4 Celtics. Though his lofty scoring total is slightly down from last season, his efficiency is at a career high. He also leads the NBA in minutes played.
As is often an issue for scoring wings in the MVP race, Tatum’s lack of otherworldly counting stats while failing to top 30 points per game puts him behind the top candidates. However, there’s little doubt he’ll be a key fixture in our top 10 all campaign.
4. Kevin Durant, Suns
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 53.5 | 52.2 | 89.1 | 7.1 | 5.5 | 31.4 |
Where would the Suns be if they didn’t have Durant? With Devin Booker and Bradley Beal sidelined early on, the 13-time All-Star picked up the slack and kept the Suns afloat in a competitive Western Conference. Durant is averaging 31.4 points on 53.3% shooting, including a league-leading 52.2% from beyond the arc.
The 35-year-old already has nine 30-point performances this season. He’s managed to produce efficiently while boasting one of the highest usage rates in the Association.
3. Joel Embiid, 76ers
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 49.4 | 29.4 | 88.1 | 11.3 | 6.3 | 32.1 |
Antetokounmpo and Jokic repeated as MVPs prior to Embiid’s first crown last season. The 76ers center has a solid chance to keep that trend going if he can stay healthy.
Embiid’s in the hunt for his third straight scoring title and leads his peers in free-throw attempts (176). He’s also fifth in rebounds (11.3 per game) and 10th in blocks (1.9). Perhaps the most impressive part of Embiid’s campaign is his passing ability. The Cameroon native is facilitating more of the club’s offense with James Harden out of the picture, posting a 31% assist percentage, which ranks in the 97th percentile among big men, per Cleaning the Glass.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 53.4 | 36.4 | 93.7 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 30.4 |
Gilgeous-Alexander is picking up right where he left off last season when he earned his maiden All-NBA first-team selection. The Thunder guard ranks in the top five in multiple categories, including points (30.4 per game), steals (2.3), and free-throw percentage (93.7%).
He’s been integral to Oklahoma City’s defensive improvement, using his length to disrupt passing lanes and contest shots on the perimeter. The Thunder boast a plus-13.3 net rating with Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor.
1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
2023-24 season averages
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 56.8 | 31.1 | 79.4 | 13.4 | 8.9 | 28.8 |
Another season, another year of Jokic putting up outrageous numbers. But this time, the Nuggets star is somehow outdoing his usual self. Not only is he averaging a career-high 28.8 points, but his 13.4 rebounds per contest are setting the pace league-wide.
And though Denver is a couple of games off the top in the West after finishing first last season, his case this year is arguably bolstered by Jamal Murray’s extended absence. Jokic’s 32.6% usage rate is the highest it’s ever been in his career, overtaking the 2021-22 campaign (30.9%) that Murray missed with an ACL tear.
In all likelihood, Jokic probably can’t maintain this over an entire season. However, the two-time MVP has made a habit of defying logic. It would be exceedingly difficult to deny him a third MVP if he does it again.
