Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić rank among the top 10 this season in scoring, rebounds and triple-doubles.
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It was mostly quiet through the first quarter of the NBA season here in the lab where our Kia MVP Ladder is cooking. But no more. The ladder is officially shaking from the weight at the top.
We have discussion. We have debate. We have — controversy? All because we have two very deserving players who can make an argument for No. 1.
For now, that status goes to the holdover, Nikola Jokić. That said, it’s very close because there’s only one other player in the league who can cause the ladder to wobble, and that’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who checks in at No. 2.
This all seems understandable; they’ve carried their struggling teams virtually from opening night and are dropping amazing numbers along the way. Dare we say, MVP-level numbers.
The Joker gets the nod for now, but this competition demands a close inspection from this point forward.
Setting the stage this week: Giannis gets meaty competition Friday when he and the Bucks play Jayson Tatum and the Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Milwaukee’s schedule, which was soft over the last few weeks, gets tougher in a hurry with the defending champs. It’s a checkpoint for two Top 5 members of the ladder as well.
One stat to know: Jokić played 40 minutes in last Tuesday’s four-point win over the Warriors. In his eight minutes on the bench, the Nuggets were minus-19.
What they are saying: “He went to New York. We thought that’d be a lot of pressure on him … Sometimes he doesn’t handle pressure well, I guess you could say, but he stepped up to the plate. Low key, he’s starting to creep into that (MVP) conversation … He’s rising. You need to talk about that MVP conversation a little bit.”
— Former player Jeff Teague on No. 5 Karl-Anthony Towns, his ex-teammate with the Wolves.
1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Last Ladder: No. 1
Season stats: 29.9 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 10.4 apg
His case: The Nuggets are feast or famine with and without the Joker on the floor. That was always the case for much of the last four years, but it is more striking now — Denver’s offensive rating is dead last in the NBA without him and No. 1 with him, same for team field goal percentage.
He’s the only player in the league in the top five in scoring, rebounds and assists, and he also leads the Nuggets in steals. His defense, never as bad as often suggested, is better this season.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Last Ladder: No. 4
Season stats: 32.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 6.6 apg
His case: He’s on an efficient and productive tear that confirms his place among the NBA greats. With a decision to swap the 3-point shot for the mid-range, Giannis’ shot selection is better and reflected in his 61.6% marksmanship.
He’s among the league’s double-double leaders while applying his usual presence on the defensive end. Giannis is averaging more rebounds than Anthony Davis, more assists than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and more points than anyone.
3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Last Ladder: No. 2
Season stats: 28.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 5.6 apg
His case: Until Wednesday when he missed his first game of the season, Tatum was an ironman while the Celtics saw absences from Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown and even Derrick White. He nearly took down the top-ranked Cavaliers without Brown and White, missing a bunny shot in the final minute. He still leads the defending champs in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals.
In addition to the Friday showdown with the rising Bucks and Giannis, Tatum has another star matchup Saturday with the equally rising Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant (8 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass).
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Ladder: No. 5
Season stats: 29.8 ppg, 6.5 apg, 5.4 rpg
His case: He’s coming off another steady and consistent week which has been his trademark all season, actually. Shai is an automatic 25-30 points on 50% shooting each night, with decent playmaking and closing skills. Book it.
Next Tuesday he’ll face the Mavericks and Luka Dončić. This will be an interesting checkpoint because the Mavs bounced Shai and the top-seeded Thunder from the playoffs last spring in six games. Shai was solid in that series (30 or more points in five games) but didn’t rise to the level of Luka (or Kyrie Irving).
5. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Last Ladder: Honorable mention
Season stats: 25.2 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 3.0 apg
His case: A hearty top-five welcome to KAT, who’s a difference maker so far for the Knicks, and most nights he’s their go-to guy in big moments. He’s also back at center full-time — he played power forward next to Rudy Gobert in Minnesota the last few seasons — and has the power results to back it up.
Towns leads all East centers in scoring and is averaging a career-high 13.2 rebounds. Oh, and he hasn’t neglected the deep shot, currently at 45%. The Knicks started 5-6; then KAT got comfortable in his new skin and they’ve gone 9-2 since.
The Next 5:
6. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
7. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
8. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
9. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jaylen Brown, Celtics; Norman Powell, Clippers; Alperen Şengün, Rockets; Jalen Williams, Thunder; Trae Young, Hawks.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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