Where Steph, Jokic stand in MVP rankings with month to go

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After a brief hiatus, the Steph Curry NBA MVP conversation ... is back.A remarkable 11-game streak of 30-plus point games propelled Curry back into the discussion, but the Warriors' continued position on the periphery of the postseason picture still makes him winning the award unlikely.Elsewhere around the league, Nikola Jokic continues to defy what we've long expected from a center in the NBA, Joel Embiid is racking up massive numbers on the best team in the Eastern Conference and Damian Lillard is earning his respect nationally.Here is the latest edition of our NBA MVP rankings as the 2020-21 season winds down.

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<p>Paul, set to turn 36 years old before season's end, has been operating at maximum efficiency and has led the normally lowly Phoenix Suns to the second seed in the Western Conference as of this publish.</p>

<p>An average of 16.0 points and 8.8 assists per game might not jump off the page, but Paul's leadership and consistency have been the foundation for a Suns team that has the third-best net rating in the NBA (plus-6.5).</p>

<p>He edges out Kawhi Leonard at this spot due to the Los Angeles Clippers star missing quite a few games for injury this season, but Paul's value to his team makes him more than worthy of inclusion on this list.</p>

Paul, set to turn 36 years old before season's end, has been operating at maximum efficiency and has led the normally lowly Phoenix Suns to the second seed in the Western Conference as of this publish.

An average of 16.0 points and 8.8 assists per game might not jump off the page, but Paul's leadership and consistency have been the foundation for a Suns team that has the third-best net rating in the NBA (plus-6.5).

He edges out Kawhi Leonard at this spot due to the Los Angeles Clippers star missing quite a few games for injury this season, but Paul's value to his team makes him more than worthy of inclusion on this list.

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<p>Seen by many as a favorite for MVP entering the season, it has been an up-and-down year for Doncic and the Mavericks. The Slovenian star's numbers certainly fit those of an MVP candidate: 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game.</p>

<p>Dallas is seventh in the West, but given the way the team's schedule lightens up down the stretch after this week's doubleheader against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, Luka will have ample opportunity to pump up his numbers and help the Mavericks climb the standings.</p>

<p>He's definitely a longshot, but Doncic could work himself into the top three or four with a strong finish to his third NBA season.</p>

Seen by many as a favorite for MVP entering the season, it has been an up-and-down year for Doncic and the Mavericks. The Slovenian star's numbers certainly fit those of an MVP candidate: 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game.

Dallas is seventh in the West, but given the way the team's schedule lightens up down the stretch after this week's doubleheader against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, Luka will have ample opportunity to pump up his numbers and help the Mavericks climb the standings.

He's definitely a longshot, but Doncic could work himself into the top three or four with a strong finish to his third NBA season.

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<p>The only player to maintain his spot from our last update in February, Antetokounmpo is playing at roughly the same level he has in each of the past two seasons, both of which culminated with him bringing home MVP honors.</p>

<p>Three-peat winners are rare across NBA history, but 28.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game for the third-best team in the Eastern Conference should garner at least some votes for the award.</p>

<p>Giannis' Player Efficiency Rating (PER) ranks third in the NBA behind the top two guys on this list, and he's essentially a lock to be named to his third straight All-NBA First-Team.</p>

The only player to maintain his spot from our last update in February, Antetokounmpo is playing at roughly the same level he has in each of the past two seasons, both of which culminated with him bringing home MVP honors.

Three-peat winners are rare across NBA history, but 28.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game for the third-best team in the Eastern Conference should garner at least some votes for the award.

Giannis' Player Efficiency Rating (PER) ranks third in the NBA behind the top two guys on this list, and he's essentially a lock to be named to his third straight All-NBA First-Team.

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<p>The Oakland native long has fought to earn respect nationwide for more than just his performances in clutch moments.</p>

<p>He and the Portland Trail Blazers appear destined to finish in the top six in the West and avoid the play-in tournament. Lillard's 28.6 points and 7.6 assists per game averages are no joke, especially with C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic missing a significant chunk of the regular season.</p>

<p>Lillard is another longshot to take home the MVP award this season, but he remains one of the more underrated players in the NBA, and could end up being a finalist at season's end.</p>

The Oakland native long has fought to earn respect nationwide for more than just his performances in clutch moments.

He and the Portland Trail Blazers appear destined to finish in the top six in the West and avoid the play-in tournament. Lillard's 28.6 points and 7.6 assists per game averages are no joke, especially with C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic missing a significant chunk of the regular season.

Lillard is another longshot to take home the MVP award this season, but he remains one of the more underrated players in the NBA, and could end up being a finalist at season's end.

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<p>The man who has been the talk of NBA Twitter for the past two weeks, an incredible run by Curry has landed him back among the top NBA MVP candidates.</p>

<p>Curry notched 11 straight games with 30-plus points prior to Wednesday's loss in Washington, and since April 4, Steph is averaging 39.0 points and 5.8 rebounds on an absurd 47.3 percent shooting from 3-point range.</p>

<p>The Warriors are in ninth in the Western Conference going into Friday's games, and unless we see a major jump up the standings by the Warriors during another otherworldly run of games, Curry is unlikely to surpass either of the top two candidates. But even at the age of 33, it's hard to believe Curry still is playing some of the best basketball of his illustrious NBA career.</p>

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The man who has been the talk of NBA Twitter for the past two weeks, an incredible run by Curry has landed him back among the top NBA MVP candidates.

Curry notched 11 straight games with 30-plus points prior to Wednesday's loss in Washington, and since April 4, Steph is averaging 39.0 points and 5.8 rebounds on an absurd 47.3 percent shooting from 3-point range.

The Warriors are in ninth in the Western Conference going into Friday's games, and unless we see a major jump up the standings by the Warriors during another otherworldly run of games, Curry is unlikely to surpass either of the top two candidates. But even at the age of 33, it's hard to believe Curry still is playing some of the best basketball of his illustrious NBA career.

 

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<p>Embiid has the best PER in the NBA, and 30.1 points and 11.3 rebounds on 37.5 percent shooting from 3-point range for a center on the best team in his conference are MVP-worthy numbers.</p>

<p>The only thing that could keep Embiid from an MVP this season is the player ranked just ahead of him.</p>

<p>We could see him rest a bit over the final weeks of the season as Philly secures the top seed in the East, but Embiid at least deserves to the runner-up for what has been an exceptional season.</p>

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Embiid has the best PER in the NBA, and 30.1 points and 11.3 rebounds on 37.5 percent shooting from 3-point range for a center on the best team in his conference are MVP-worthy numbers.

The only thing that could keep Embiid from an MVP this season is the player ranked just ahead of him.

We could see him rest a bit over the final weeks of the season as Philly secures the top seed in the East, but Embiid at least deserves to the runner-up for what has been an exceptional season.

 

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<p>Jokic is on pace to be just the second player in NBA history to average 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for a season, joining Oscar Robertson (h/t <a href="https://theathletic.com/2528513/2021/04/19/aaron-gordon-unplugged-on-playing-with-genius-nikola-jokic-nuggets-title-chances-and-his-magic-tenure/?source=rss">The Athletic</a>).</p>

<p>A truly unique talent, Jokic's passing vision and ability to run the offense in Denver has been on full display throughout his sixth NBA season.</p>

<p>The Nuggets are among the top four teams in the West standings, and although Jamal Murray's absence will hurt their chances at a deep playoff run, Jokic is the player most fitting of an MVP in 2020-21.</p>

Jokic is on pace to be just the second player in NBA history to average 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for a season, joining Oscar Robertson (h/t The Athletic).

A truly unique talent, Jokic's passing vision and ability to run the offense in Denver has been on full display throughout his sixth NBA season.

The Nuggets are among the top four teams in the West standings, and although Jamal Murray's absence will hurt their chances at a deep playoff run, Jokic is the player most fitting of an MVP in 2020-21.

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