In the latest edition of Shoot Your Shot, Robin Lopez and Rudy Gay break down the MVP race so far.<\/p>\n
This is the scoring era in the NBA, made possible by several factors: Floor spacing, increased pace, the 3-point line, more isolation plays and relaxed rules for dribbling (making the crossover possible and popular) and legally getting from one spot on the floor to another (Eurostep, gather step, hop-step, step-through, etc.).<\/p>\n
Essentially, the defense has never been at a bigger disadvantage. The game has changed and been tweaked to favor offense. Rim protectors are almost prehistoric now. Physicality has all been eradicated; no more hand checking.<\/p>\n
There are 35 players<\/a> currently averaging 20 points a game, 17 averaging 25 and five averaging 30. If Michael Jordan played in today\u2019s game, he\u2019d probably average 50, and that\u2019s no exaggeration.<\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s more effortless than ever to score 20 points.<\/p>\n But how often you hit that number and above is what separates you from the points posse and makes you special.<\/p>\n Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is built specifically for this era. He takes full advantage of what is allowed. He places his hand on the side of the ball mid-dribble to hesitate the dribble and freeze his defender and, with space created, takes the shot. He uses the step-back shot and the pull-up off the dribble.<\/p>\n And he attacks the rim, searching for contact along the way. In this instance, three results can happen and two are good \u2014 he misses the shot, makes the shot, or gets fouled. Or maybe makes the shot and gets fouled, which means three good results.<\/p>\n His mastery of mid-range shot creation is unmatched right now. For evidence, Shai is freaky streaky \u2014 94 straight games with at least 20 points, second all-time only to Wilt Chamberlain (126). By comparison, LeBron James\u2019 best streak is 49, Stephen Curry is 23.<\/p>\n Consistency on another level \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 20+ points in 93 straight games\u2026 the 2nd-longest streak in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain!<\/p>\n SGA and the Thunder are one of just four teams ever to start a season 20-1 or better. They look to extend\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/sJy6SEU1JV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA (@NBA) December 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n With more physicality and hand-checking and clogged lanes, as was the case two decades ago, would Shai be as effective? Hard to tell. But it doesn\u2019t matter. It\u2019s a moot debate. He\u2019s a player of the 2020s. And in this week\u2019s Kia Race to the MVP, he\u2019s sitting at No. 2.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to imagine Shai falling on the MVP ladder if this keeps up. Oklahoma City continues to win and Shai continues to get buckets at a historic pace. That\u2019s a convincing combination.<\/p>\n Setting the stage this week: If Luka Doncic returns from a one-game absence due to personal reasons, it\u2019ll be an MVP-flavored tour for the No. 3 player on the ladder and the Lakers. It starts Friday when they visit the Celtics and Jaylen Brown (No. 10), who has perked lately for Boston; then Philly and Tyrese Maxey (No. 6), who has taken ownership of the Sixers; then the NBA Cup quarterfinals against the Spurs and perhaps Victor Wembanyama (No. 8) if he suits up.<\/p>\n Luka is bringing along his comedy partner \u2014 the two are constantly needling each other \u2014 and ladder-sniffer Austin Reaves as they navigate this road trip and try to keep the Lakers high in the West standings.<\/p>\n The stat to know: Luka and Reaves are the deadliest teammate scoring combination in the NBA right now. They\u2019re averaging 64.2 points, roughly 10 more than any other duo.<\/p>\n What they are saying: \u201cI\u2019m still growing, to be honest. Every game, I take information and apply it to the next game. Obviously, this year I have more responsibility. I\u2019ve never been in this position before \u2026 I\u2019m still figuring it out.\u201d \u2014 Jaylen Brown on playing without Jayson Tatum.<\/p>\n 1. Nikola Joki\u0107, Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s ranking<\/a>: No. 1 His case: The only player in the NBA currently averaging a triple-double, and likely the only player to finish the season with a triple-double average unless Luka Don\u010di\u0107 pulls even. Joki\u0107 remains on a higher all-around offensive plane than just about everyone else.<\/p>\n He averaged 32-11-11 in November and opened December with a 29-20 double-double. Actually, the only thing Joki\u0107 hasn\u2019t been able to do is help the Nuggets prosper at home, where they\u2019re a pedestrian 6-4. The good news? The next three games are on the road.<\/p>\n 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s ranking<\/a>: No. 2 His case: After finishing November with 12 games (out of 21) scoring at least 30 points, Shai opened December with a similar pop \u2014 38 points Tuesday against the Warriors. Just as impressive, he didn\u2019t commit a turnover in that game, and that\u2019s with 38 minutes of playing time. The ability to protect the ball is such an understated part of his bag.<\/p>\n Shai\u2019s accuracy remains astounding as of late. He made 13 of 21 against the Warriors, and four games earlier shot 13-18 against the Blazers to avenge the Thunder\u2019s only loss of the season. He\u2019s at 55% on the season and has made less than 50% in a game only four times.<\/p>\n 3. Luka Don\u010di\u0107, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s ranking<\/a>: No. 3 His case: He\u2019s the scoring leader and ranks fourth in assists and among the best rebounding guards in the league right now. Over the last seven games, Luka has scored 33 or more points and hit 40 twice. His rise in LA continues.<\/p>\n He can be reckless with the ball at times \u2014 nine turnovers in his last game \u2014 but the pluses far outweigh that; those mistakes rarely cost the Lakers a game, as evident by their place in the standings.<\/p>\n 4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s ranking<\/a>: No. 5 His case: Cunningham still has the Pistons in the attic of the East, a spot they enjoyed throughout much of November, and now, into December. In that sense, he\u2019s the best player on the best team, at least record-wise, in the conference.<\/p>\n Although he scored only 18 points last Monday against the Hawks \u2014 his lowest output in 13 games \u2014 he secured the one-point win with a reverse layup in the final seconds. It was typical of Cunningham, coming through when the Pistons needed him most.<\/p>\n 5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s ranking<\/a>: No. 4 His case: Uh-oh \u2014 a tremendous start to the season by Giannis seems seriously jeopardized now with the calf strain<\/a> he suffered Wednesday. The missed games are piling up at the wrong time for the MVP candidate and the Bucks.<\/p>\n It seems Giannis\u2019 chance of even qualifying for the MVP or any other major award is in peril, given that he must reach the 65-games-played limit; he can only miss 11 more games. No need to penalize him this week on the MVP ladder, but obviously, his availability will dictate his spot in the future. We\u2019ll show him respect for now.<\/p>\n The next 5:<\/p>\n 6. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers And five more (listed alphabetically): Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors; Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks; Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at\u00a0spowell@nba.com<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on\u00a0X<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Season stats<\/a>: 28.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 11.1 assists<\/p>\n
Season stats<\/a>: 32.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists<\/p>\n
Season stats<\/a>: 35.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.9 assists<\/p>\n
Season stats<\/a>: 27.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists<\/p>\n
Season stats<\/a>: 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists<\/p>\n
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
9. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
10. Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics<\/p>\n