It’s clear that Joel Embiid is having an MVP-caliber season thus far. But where does he stack up compared with other big names around the league? Throughout the season, we will take a periodic look at the NBA MVP race, and the front-runners in it.
Joel Embiid
Season stats: 27.7 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 55.4 FG%, 83.3 FT%, 31.0 PER (2nd in NBA)
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Embiid played his first back-to-back of the young season, and showed little signs of fatigue against the Pistons: 33 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks, and two free throws to ice the game in the closing moments. The Sixers are 12-2 when he plays, 0-3 when he doesn’t. He’s the only player in the top ten in PPG (fifth) and RPG (seventh).
Nikola Jokic
Season stats: 25.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 9.6 APG, 56.1 FG%, 83.3 FT%, 31.3 PER (Leads NBA)
Jokic is having an unbelievable season, nearly averaging a triple-double. He’s the best passing big in the league, and second place is miles away. He’s logged five triple-doubles already this season, tied for most in the NBA. The only detraction from his résumé is that his performances haven’t amounted to more wins – the Nuggets are a pedestrian 9-7 on the season.
NBA
Luka Doncic
Season stats: 26.7 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 APG, 45.7 FG%, 74.6 FT%, 26.0 PER
Doncic is having a very similar season when compared with Jokic: nearly averaging a triple-double, yet his Mavericks are in the middle of the pack in the West (8-8). Like Jokic, Doncic has five triple-doubles this season, and just like Jokic, his team is 3-2 in those games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Season stats: 27.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 54.6 FG%, 58.5 FT%, 26.1 PER
The Greek Freak has been remarkably consistent this season: at least 22 points in all but two of his games, and between eight and 14 rebounds in all but two. He ranks just behind Embiid and Jaylen Brown at seventh in the league in scoring, but he’d be much higher if he improved on his woeful free throw shooting.
Kawhi Leonard
Season stats: 25.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.7 APG, 50.5 FG%, 41.9 3FG%, 90.0 FT%, 28.0 PER
Leonard has caught fire after a slow start to the season. He’s averaging 29.1 PPG and shooting 48.7% from beyond the arc in his last seven games, all Clippers wins. No doubt he’ll be in the conversation all season, as long as his team stays at or close to the top of the Western Conference Standings.
Anthony Davis
Season stats: 22.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 53.7 FG%, 73.1 FT%, 26.2 PER
The Lakers have been managing Davis’ minutes because of adductor and ankle injuries, but he is still showing out. He scored 37 points in just 28 minutes in his team’s most recent win over the Bulls Saturday night, a game where none of the starters played in the fourth quarter.
LeBron James
Season stats: 23.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 7.5 APG, 47.7 FG%, 71.7 FT%, 23.3 PER
Imagine a world where James didn’t figure in the MVP conversation. At 36 years old, he is the only one aside from Jokic on this list to play in every game this season.
Kevin Durant
Season stats: 31.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 5.8 APG, 53.8 FG%, 47.5 3FG%, 86.5 FT%, 27.9 PER (4th in NBA)
A remarkable start for the 32-year-old. Coming off a missed season with an Achilles injury, Durant is second in the league in scoring to Washington’s Bradley Beal. It remains to be seen how Durant’s numbers will hold up with James Harden now in the fold. With only one ball to go around, someone’s stats will certainly take a downward turn.