Down to the Stretch: 2020-21 NBA MVP Rankings

Dantre Cole 4/6/21

2020-21 NBA MVP Rankings

With the NBA season coming down into its stretch run before we head into the 2021 NBA playoffs, we take an in debt look at my top 5 rankings for the Most Valuable Player award for this shortened 72 game NBA season so far. With so many key stars being injured currently and during the season, these current rankings reflect players who have been healthy for much of the season and available for their respective teams. Earlier in the season the top 2 MVP candidates were Joel Embiid, who was having a career year before going down and missing several games due to his knee injury, and LeBron James, who was continuing to defeat father time, leading the Lakers in year 18 before going down with his high right ankle sprain with no timetable for his return.

Image via Nick Wass/Associated Press

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (31-18) 4th in Western Conference

2020-21 stats: 26.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 8.6 AST, 1.6 SPG, 42.7 3P%, 56 FG%, 31.0 PER

Career Highlights: 2x All NBA, 3x NBA All Star

Photo via Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Coming in at number 1 on the MVP race is Nikola Jokic. The big man is putting up career high numbers in points, rebounds, and assists while also leading the Denver Nuggets currently with the #4 seed in the loaded Western Conference. Jokic recently made his 3rd consecutive all star game this season, and if he keeps putting these numbers up, he will most likely be making his 3rd straight all NBA team as well. Jokic is a walking triple double, a big who does it all, posting 12 triple doubles so far this season, 1 shy of his career high of 13. Jokic also had a dominant month of March, being named the Western Conference player of the month. With the addition of Aaron Gordon that the Nuggets made at the trade deadline, they will be looking to make another deep run this season into the NBA playoffs, falling short to the eventual 2020 NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers in last season’s Western Conference Finals.

2. Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers (30-19) 6th in Western Conference

2020-21 stats: 29.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.7 AST, 44.8 FG%, 93.6 FT%, 38.2 3P%, 26.5 PER

Career Highlights: 5x All NBA, 6x NBA All Star, 2012-13 NBA ROY

Photo via Sam Forencich/Getty Images

Damian Lillard is continuing to prove all his doubters wrong this season, as he continues to put up strong numbers for the Portland Trailblazers. Every NBA fan knows how loaded the Western Conference continues to be year after year. With his back court running mate CJ McCollum only playing 24 games this season and recently coming back from injury, and big man Jusuf Nurkic currently out due to injury having only played 17 out of 49 total games this season, Lillard has put this Blazers team on his back as they look to head into the playoffs. With McCollum being healthy and back on the court, and Nurkic returning soon, this Blazers team will look to make some noise in the playoffs this season after a disappointing 2019-20 season in the bubble.

3. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks (28-21) 7th in Western Conference

2020-21 stats: 28.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 8.8 AST, 48.6 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 26.2 PER

Career Highlights: 2018-19 ROY, 1x All NBA, 2x NBA All Star

Photo via Getty Images

Heading into the 2020-21 NBA season, Luka was considered the favorite to win the NBA MVP award. When the season started, Luka appeared to be out of basketball shape and got off to a terribly slow start, as well as the Mavericks getting off to a slow start record wise. As the season has progressed, Luka has stepped his game up once again, and this is what was expected from him at the start of the season. Luka is currently leading the Mavs right now with the #7 seed in the west and shooting a career high from 3 this season at 37.6%. If Luka continues to improve his 3-point shot, it is pretty much going to be impossible to stop him. During the month of March, Luka shot 43.3% from 3-point range and 53% overall. Luka is currently only 22 years old and will be in the MVP conversation for years to come.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (32-17) 3rd in Eastern Conference

2020-21 stats: 28.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 6.2 AST, 56.5 FG%, 1.3 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 29.0 PER

Career Highlights: 2x NBA MVP, 2019-20 NBA DPOY, 2016-17 Most Improved Player, 4x All NBA, 5x NBA All Star

Photo via Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Another strong, MVP worthy season for Giannis. After signing a 5-year, $228 million contract to stay in Milwaukee, Giannis is determined to bring the first championship to the Milwaukee Bucks since the 1970-71 NBA season, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, led the bucks to the title. Giannis, a 2x back-to-back MVP, already has accomplished a lot on his NBA resume. The Greek Freak pretty much has everything except for the NBA title that he is chasing. With the addition of Jrue Holiday this season, a floor general point guard and his recent contract extension, (4 years, $135 million) and Khris Middleton also being under contract, the Bucks have their core going forward for the next couple of years as Giannis looks to finally make a deep playoff run.

5. James Harden, Brooklyn Nets (35-16) 1st in Eastern Conference

2020-21 stats: 25.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 10.9 AST, 46.3 FG%, 35.8 3P%, 24.7 PER

Career Highlights: 2017-18 NBA MVP, 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year, 3x NBA Scoring Champion, 7x All NBA, 9x NBA All Star

Image via AP

Harden is currently in his 1st season with the Brooklyn Nets, demanding to get out of Houston earlier in the season. Joining forces with 2 other NBA all stars in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets have barely had any games with Harden, Durant, and Irving playing together, only 7, due to Irving missing several games, and Durant currently being out but set to return from a hamstring injury. Since Harden joined the Nets, they have a 27-7 record, and Harden has carried the Nets with the other 2 stars missing so many games. Harden is also leading the NBA in assists per game at 10.9 and is once again a strong MVP candidate. One set back for Harden winning the MVP award is the news that broke that he would miss at least 10 days with a hamstring injury. With the Nets having the best record in the Eastern Conference and Durant set to get back in action, there will be no rush for Harden to return. The Nets will want to make sure everyone is healthy going into the playoffs. Also, with the additions of veteran players Blake Griffin and Lamarcus Aldridge, it is going to be tough to stop the Nets from making a deep playoff run and Harden joining Irving and Durant as an NBA champion this season.

Next 5 out: Chris Paul, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard