NBA MVP Ladder: Ranking the top five candidates

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Season averages: 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks per game

After Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles at the end of last season, the world assumed that the Boston Celtics would need to take a gap year in his absence.

Instead, Jaylen Brown has broken out for the best season of his career. In what was supposed to be a forgettable season, he’s led the Celtics to 51 wins and counting. At second place in the Eastern Conference, this is anything but a gap year in Boston.

He’s displayed a new level of versatility this season, taking full control of the Celtics as Tatum recovered.

Critics have spent years questioning Brown’s ability to be the primary option on a successful team. Those criticisms have been silenced this season as he’s consistently been the Celtics’ primary shot-creator.

While some of the other candidates on this list have been on a hot streak recently, Brown has been arguably the most consistent player on this list.

4. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

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Season averages: 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks per game

Nikola Jokic has continued to prove why he’s considered one of the best players in the world. He’s having one of the most statistically impressive seasons in NBA history.

With Wednesday’s performance in the books, Jokic officially joined Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double in multiple seasons.

If he keeps his current pace, he’ll become the first player ever to lead the league in both assists and rebounds per game for an entire season.

In other seasons, Jokic’s campaign may have been a shoe-in for the honor.

In fact, he’s averaging slightly better numbers than he did when he last won the MVP award. The fact that he’s only fourth on this list is a testament to just how close this year’s race is.

3. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

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Season averages: 33.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.5 blocks per game

Luka Doncic has exploded onto the scene of what was once a two-man MVP race.

While leading the Lakers to 16 wins in their last 18 games, Doncic averaged a blistering 37.5 points in March. He also became just the 10th player in NBA history to put up 600 points or more in a calendar month.

There have only been two instances of a player averaging 33/7/8 for a season, and both of them were Doncic in previous years. He’s on pace to reach that mark for a third time this season.

As one of the most well-rounded players in the world, Doncic has helped the Lakers exceed expectations and then some.

When it comes to how valuable a player is to their team, Doncic has one of the strongest arguments. The Lakers are just 7-6 in the 13 games he’s missed this season.

2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

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Season averages: 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 3.1 blocks per game

It only took a few seasons to Victor Wembanyama to find himself in the MVP race. He’s quickly become the league’s premier defender while growing into a nearly unstoppable player on the offensive end.

At just 22 years old, Wembanyama has led San Antonio to a 58-18 record so far. The red-hot Spurs have won 10 straight games, largely due to Wembanyama’s otherworldly impact.

He put up 41 points and 18 rebounds in just 29 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Warriors. That performance was his second-straight 41-point game.

Wembanyama has made a habit of making opposing players and coaches look completely clueless on how to stop him.

Much like Doncic, a large part of his MVP case comes from a recent hot streak. But in terms of overall on-court impact, it’s hard to argue against Wembanyama.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

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Season averages: 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks per game

Despite an incredibly tight race down the stretch, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still tops the list of MVP candidates. He’s once again led the OKC Thunder to the league’s best record, currently sitting at 60-16 on the season.

On top of the team success, SGA is having a historic season individually. He’s shooting an astonishing 55.3% from the field, creeping into efficiency that’s unheard of for a player at his position.

But he’s more than just a scorer. He’s also improved upon his playmaking ability this season, particularly when opposing coaches try to hamper him with a double team.

To top it off, the Thunder have the league’s highest rated offense and defense when SGA’s on the floor. Much like Jaylen Brown, you can look to his consistent excellence all season as another reason he’s likely to take home his second consecutive MVP trophy.

Ultimately, this MVP race has become one of the closest races in recent memory. With the Thunder and Lakers facing off on Thursday as the league wraps up the season, the next two weeks could change this entire race.

James Parker and Brandon Williams contributed to this story.