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The calendar advances while the KIA runs to the MVP.
The ultimate climber on Kia’s MVP ladder is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the undisputed leader of Oklahoma City’s burgeoning thunder. The player and the 2025 entry team were strengthened through a December that saw them 12-1 (defeat in the NBA Emirates Cup championship counts in the standings).
Gilgeous-Alexander has been brilliant all season and had three 40-point games over the last 10 days. That level of consistency must be saluted along with the success of the Thunder, who remain in the West penthouse. Therefore, he moves up a step and is tapping Nikola Jokić on the shoulder.
In addition, Victor Wembanyama climbed the most sensible five, helped through an impressive December (and Christmas in New York), also on both sides of the field. It is No. 7 on the markers and is more effective than a year ago. It also produces more blockages on average than Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat.
Meanwhile: “The Joker” ranks in the top 3 in the NBA in terms of scoring, rebounds and assists and assists to maintain an area between him and the infield in the rankings. This helps in this case as well: Denver is number four in the Western Conference.
Prepare the scene this week: the MVP winner established a possible long -term winner when Jokić incorporates Wembanyama on Friday in Denver (9 p. m. , pass from the NBA League) and Saturday (8 p. m. SAN ANTONIOARRAY This great man This great man verification of force is essential, even if only because the two play the most productive ball of his career, which says a lot about Jokić and explains Wembanyama’s steep prospective.
The stat you need to know: Gilgeous-Alexander closed out 2024 Strong with a hot December: 33. 3 points, 5. 8 rebounds, 5. 2 assists and 2. 5 steals per game. Throughout 2024 (January-December), he led all players in scoring.
What they say: “He looks like the MVP, man. He’s consistent every single night. His team will give him the ball and let him swing every single night. . . I love watching this. It’s incredible, man. If (he keeps doing it), I hope they give him (the MVP) this year for sure. . . he’s playing his brain right now. – The Wolves keep Anthony Edwards, over Gilgeous-Alexander.
His case: Jokić remains the popular par excellence of the league until now. His recent game against the Hawks highlighted his furious case: the first triple-double of 20, 15 in less than 30 minutes in NBA history. And that followed 30 points, 22 rebounds, 11 assists and 4 steals against Utah.
With about 31 consistent problems with the game, Jokić gets about 10 problems on average for his career. How many MVP applicants or MVP winners have already gotten a handle on this?
His case: it turns out that it cannot pass through a mini thermor so far, even after the name game of the Emirates NBA Cup, when he triggered 8 per 24, Gilgeous-Alxander returned with 35 or more problems in five of The next seven games.
His defense, much like OKC’s, has leveled up as well. Gilgeous-Alexander ranks No. 3 in the NBA in steals per game (2 spg), has a pair of four-steal games and one with five steals. He’s also No. 2 among guards in total blocks, too.
His case: Antetokounmpo remains a two-way force, although injuries (back spasms, illness, nothing major) caused him to miss a few games since winning the Emirates NBA Cup. But he returned to an MVP level since rejoining the lineup and leads the league in scoring.
Antetokounmpo has a key confrontation with Wembanyama next Wednesday (9:30 p. m. ET, ESPN), its first meeting of the season. This will be an attractive control point for the most valuable player for him and the young center of the Spurs who, like Giannis, has influence at both ends.
His case: Another Tatum stability segment, which has 20 or more problems in consecutive games and is taking more than 50% this period. He lost 33 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and three interceptions Thursday against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.
Tatum recently pointed out that other MVP applicants want to do more to help their teams, while in their case the protection champions are loaded and, therefore, the demands on it are so great.
His case: Massive leap by the second-year center over the last few weeks, punctuated by his tremendous Christmas game in New York. In December he became the first player in NBA history to compile 300 points, 100 rebounds, 50 blocks, 50 assists and 40 three-pointers in a calendar month.
Wemby is also a strong candidate for Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He’s leading the league in blocks, more than a full block over Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.
And others (listed in alphabetical order): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Tyler Herro, Miami Heat; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers; Bring Young, Atlanta Falcones.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can email him here, his file here, and follow along with him in X.
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