the shattering entry of Giannis Antetokounmpo

Two weeks after the very first MVP Ranking of the 2021-22 season, here we are with a new version just out of the oven. A new version containing a number of changes in the hierarchy of top NBA players this season. Are you hot? So let’s go !

#10 – Trae Young (Hawks)

Stats : 26.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 46.5% shooting (including 39.4% 3-point) and 89.2% free throws
With: 11 wins – 10 losses

Well in the hard at the start of the season, the Hawks have clearly raised the bar in the last fortnight by stringing together seven straight wins to return to the positive. And in the middle of it all, Trae Young got dirty. The proof, the NBA rewarded him with a small title of player of the week Monday, and it is clearly deserved. Because when you shoot at more than 31 points and 8 caviars per game at more than 56% shooting, including almost 52% of the parking lot, there is enough to bring it back. With the injuries of De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic or Cam Reddish, Ice Trae will have to continue his work to help the Hawks in their ascent to the heights of the East.

#9 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)

Stats : 25.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.2 interceptions, 44.0% shooting (including 31.5% 3-pointers) and 68.2% free throws
With: 10 wins – 9 losses

Small fall for Luka Doncic, seventh in the initial classification. And for good reason, the maestro of the Mavericks went through the infirmary box during the last fortnight, missing three games in a row because of a sore ankle and knee. Without him, his teammate Kristaps Porzingis was in great shape but the Mavs lost three times. On the one hand, this obviously shows the importance of Doncic in the success of his team but it penalizes the overall results. Especially since the return of Luka, Dallas has won only one meeting despite the strong performance of the Slovenian (28 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists on average over the last three games).

#8 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

Stats : 26.2 points, 13.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.2 interceptions, 59.5% shooting (including 41.3% 3-pointers) and 75.3% free throws
With: 10 wins – 10 losses

Another big name passed by the infirmary box during the last fortnight: the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. A wrist that hurts, and boom the defeats follow one another for a Denver team struck by a terrible curse now. The infirmary is packed and the Nuggets have lost six straight games (a first in Denver since the 2015-16 season) including four without the Joker. The latter finally returned on Monday against the Heat for exploser Markieff Morris bring his own to a win that will do Denver a lot of good. Did you say “Valuable”? If the Joker resumes the exceptional pace that was his before his injury and the Nuggets manage to get their heads right despite their current struggles, Jokic will quickly return to the heights of the MVP Ranking.

#7 – Paul George (Clippers)

Stats : 25.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.8 interceptions, 43.1% shooting (including 33.2% 3-point) and 89.5% free throws
With: 11 wins – 10 losses

Author of a pure start to the season in which he brought the Clippers to an attractive record of nine wins for five losses, Paul George is sticking his tongue out a bit at the moment and unsurprisingly, Tyronn Lue’s men are struggling. PG’s last seven games? Below the 24 points average, with quite filthy percentages (40% shooting, 30% parking) and no less than 15 turnovers on his last two outings. Result, five losses for the Los Angeles team. Difficult to blame him obviously, because Paulo must be on all fronts every night without Kawhi Leonard, but also without Nicolas Batum currently (even if Marcus Morris and Serge Ibaka have returned). However, we have to take him out of the Top 5.

#6 – Jimmy Butler (Heat)

Stats : 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.1 steals, 51.9% shooting and 85.0% free throws
With: 13 wins – 8 losses

Already sixth two weeks ago, Jimmy Butler retains his place. Buckets returned to the court on November 17 after three games of absence due to an ankle injury and immediately resumed a strong pace: 31-10-10 against the Pels, 32 pawns against Washington, then 29 again against the Wizards. Jimmy has calmed down a bit in his recent outings but the Heat have won four out of six games when he was on the pitch in the past fortnight. Enough to consolidate its sixth place in the MVP Ranking, and Miami’s place on the podium in the East. Note however that Butler has just returned to the infirmary after a nasty fall against the Bulls a few days ago.

#5 – DeMar DeRozan (Bulls)

Stats : 25.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 48.9% shooting (including 32.8% 3-point) and 89.6% free throws
With: 14 wins – 8 losses

The Bulls have had their ups and downs over the past two weeks (four wins for four losses), and DeMar DeRozan has been a little less impressive than at the start of the season when he had chained offensive cards while showing himself to be a good clutch. night after night. But this does not mean that we will release him from the Top 5 because DMDR remains very solid in its production (more than 24 points on average over the last eight games) alongside Zach LaVine, enough to allow the Bulls to ‘be second in the Eastern Conference at the time of these lines. Good stats, good collective record, overall very successful start to the season on an individual level, in short, things are not moving.

#4 – Chris Booker (Suns)

Stats Chris Paul : 14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 2.0 steals, 47.2% shooting (including 34.9% 3-point) and 84.6% free throws
Stats Devin Booker : 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.0 interceptions, 45.8% shooting (including 41.0% 3-pointers) and 85.4% free throws
With: 17 wins – 3 losses

The Suns are so hot right now behind the duo Chris Paul – Devin Booker that we wanted to highlight the entire backcourt of Phoenix. CP3 is CP3, and Devin Booker is currently on a little cloud like the Cactus who remain on a streak of … 16 consecutive victories. Book was notably voted player of the week in the Western Conference on Monday, a week in which he turned 30 pawns on average with a superb 53% of shooting success, of which 56% at 3-point and 90% from the line. free throws. It’s mega clean, it’s mega strong, it’s mega Book. And knowing the guy, there is a way that he catches fire in the enormous shock of this Tuesday against the Warriors of Stephen Curry.

# 3 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

Stats : 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.1 interceptions, 52.6% shooting (including 27.7% 3-pointers) and 67.2% throws -francs
With: 13 wins – 8 losses

Absent from the Top 10 a fortnight ago, Giannis arrives and immediately takes the third spot. This is called making a smashing entrance. A shattering entry obviously linked to the rise of the Bucks within the Eastern Conference after a start to the season plagued by absences. Antetokounmpo, equal to himself since the resumption, now has support with the returns of Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, and the Bucks have thus engaged the steamroller mode with seven wins in a row. Domination on both sides of the field, monstrous individual stats, third record from the East for Milwaukee (tied with Miami and Washington), it deserves a place on the podium for Giannis.

# 2 – Kevin Durant (Nets)

Stats : 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 54.8% shooting (including 41.1% 3-point) and 85.4% free throws
With: 14 wins – 6 losses

The Nets do not breathe serenity at the start of the season. Brooklyn still struggles with the big guys. James Harden continues to seek himself. Kyrie Irving is still on her sofa. And Joe Harris has just joined the infirmary for an ankle injury which should deprive him of several weeks of competition. Despite all this, the Nets are now leading the Eastern Conference. The main reason ? Her name is obviously Kevin Durant, who continues his magnificent individual campaign. Since the start of the season, KD has carried the New York team on his shoulders and he will undoubtedly have to do more without Harris, unless Harden finally becomes the James Harden we know again …

#1 – Stephen Curry (Warriors)

Stats : 28.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.8 interceptions, 46.6% shooting (including 42.3% 3-pointers) and 94.2% free throws
With: 18 wins – 2 losses

Stephen Curry is still at the top of the MVP Ranking, and that’s not about to change given the level of the man and the current form of the Warriors. Since our ranking point two weeks ago, Steph and his Dubs have still not known defeat. On the contrary, they explode everyone in their path – young and old alike – always without Klay Thompson. And better not piss them off. Because when you piss off Stephen Curry, the revenge is just terrible. So ask the Clippers, who fell on Sunday under the battering of the Baby Faced Assassin. It’s simple, Curry is currently living on a different planet, the planet of triple MVPs.

Honorable mentions: Zach LaVine (Bulls), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Ja Morant (Grizzlies)

Stephen Curry still first, KD still second, Giannis who makes a bombshell entry, here is what to remember from this second MVP Ranking. We are now awaiting your reactions, your rankings, and your detailed analyzes. Now is the time to defend your favorite foal, so let go! In the meantime, we are already giving you an appointment for the third edition in mid-December.