Track 1: The Hit Makers

As of Jan. 23rd, we are just over halfway through the season. In no particular order, here are your MVP leaders:

Player	Team	PTS	AST	REB
Nikola Jokić	Denver Nuggets	29.6	11.0	12.2
Luka Dončić	Los Angeles Lakers	33.4	8.7	7.8
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	Oklahoma City Thunder	32.0	6.3	4.4
Victor Wembanyama	San Antonio Spurs	24.5	2.9	10.9
Jaylen Brown	Boston Celtics	29.8	4.8	6.7

---

1st–3rd

When we talk MVP these days, most folks know the top 3 names in the race. I won’t camp out here too long. That said, it’s still worth talking about them.

Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

You have one of the best offensive talents in the league, who also happens to lead the best team in basketball with SGA. The focal point of one of the most controversial trades in NBA history is now in great shape, filling the stat sheet across the board with Luka Doncic. And of course, the best player in basketball for the last handful of years and — ironically — the number 1 facilitator at any position is Nikola Jokic.

They’re staples. Unsurprising. Automatic. The league’s “Hits” section basically starts with them every year.

I know I said I wouldn’t get too controversial here, but I will give my two cents on how I would rank these guys in terms of MVP order.

The Kia MVP Ladder has SGA at 1, Jokic at 2, and Doncic at 3. I don’t love that, if I’m honest. Personally, I’d slot SGA at 3, Doncic at 2, and Jokic at 1.

I get why SGA is on top in a lot of leaderboards. As stated, he’s the best player on the best team. And when we think MVP, the best player on the best team should be in the conversation.

But just look back at their stats. If you prioritize scoring leaders, it’s Doncic. If you prioritize Triple Doubles and guys that can get it done everywhere (which, personally, is how I like to look at it), it’s Jokic.

SGA is one of the most gifted basketball players in the world — I’m certainly not trying to take anything away from him. But for me, the MVP is about guys who can do everything. They’re irreplaceable. They are the stand-alone never trade of the season.

And while it may be boring to have him sit atop that conversation year in and year out, for me, that’s Nikola Jokic.

---

4 & 5

Victor Wembanyama & Jaylen Brown

Everyone should have seen Wemby coming. He’s 7’4 — kind of hard to miss! If somehow you don’t know Wemby, get to know him. He’s going to be synonymous with basketball excellence for the next decade.

What makes his MVP case this year fascinating is the thing that either feels like smart Spurs dynasty DNA or the slow death of old-school “play through it” hoops. It's minutes restrictions.

Victor is 22 years old, listed at 7’4, and can score seemingly whenever he wants. He might be the most valuable asset in the league. And unsurprisingly, the Spurs are treating him like it. He’s averaging only 28 minutes per game. For reference, Luka is around 36, Jokic is a little over 34, and SGA is around 33. Wemby is playing roughly 20% fewer minutes than his MVP counterparts, which makes the output all the more ridiculous.

If you adjust him to per-36 numbers (pretending everyone gets equal time on the floor), he jumps into the top tier of eligible scorers (20+ games and 20+ minutes a night). And then there’s the defense. He's got 3.5 “stocks” (steals + blocks) per game, and a league-best 2.6 blocks a night. Oh, and his defense hasn't been adjusted for per 36. That is with a minutes restriction. Guy is a nightmare for other teams.

The truly rare air of NBA Greatness is the MVP & Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) combo. The list of recipients for both is short. It's MJ, KG, Hakeem, the Admiral, and Giannis. That’s it. And only three — MJ, Hakeem, and Giannis — did it in the same season.

I'd say Wemby is a strong candidate to join that group as the 4th at some point in his career.

The Kia MVP Ladder has Wemby at 4. I’d say that’s about right.

But shifting gears, let’s talk about Jaylen Brown.

If you expected Jaylen to be on this list over the summer, respectfully, you’re lying. I’m a huge Celtics fan (a weird admission for someone who likes to write about the league as a whole), and my highest aspirations for this team were “make the playoffs.” Play-in would be good. The 5-seed would be great.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East.

That is — to put it mildly — mind-boggling. A year ago, the Celtics’ starting five was usually some combination of Jrue Holiday (traded to Portland), Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum (out for the season with an Achilles tear), Kristaps Porzingis (traded to ATL), and Al Horford (signed with GSW). Of the 8 players who logged 20+ minutes a game last season, 4 are not on the floor for Boston this year.

On a team that could be forgiven for embracing a mini-rebuild year, Jaylen Brown has been one of the best players on the hardwood. He’s always been great, a 5-time All-Star, All-NBA Second Team winner in 22–23, and Finals MVP. But if there was any doubt that he could be the 1A on a playoff contender, this year should put those questions to bed.

Jaylen is having the best season of his career this year, scoring 29.2 a game (10 more than his career average and almost 4 more than his career best season). In fact, except for blocks and steals, every statistical category is higher this season than his all-star caliber career averages.

The big question for the rest of the year won’t be “can Jaylen be a 1a?” He’s answering that every night. The question is how Boston navigates the return of Jayson Tatum into what’s starting to look less like “Batman and Robin” and more like “Batman and Batman.”

The Kia MVP Ladder has Brown currently in 6th, although he’s been back and forth in the 5 spot for the last few weeks.

I know I mentioned my MVP criteria is “who can do it at every level”, but Brown is a special case. These Boston Celtics were expected to maybe trickle into the postseason this year. Almost every player on their team is being asked to figure out how to take on a larger role on both ends of the floor. Jaylen has exceeded all reasonable expectations, and most of the unreasonable ones, too.

In terms of which player is shouldering the most to keep pushing their team to success, there are no names that deserve to be placed before Jaylen Brown. I’ll keep him at 5th in MVP. You’ll have to make one heck of an argument if you want me to move him down from there.