MANHATTAN, New York – Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic were in a near tie for the top slot back in November. Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic completed the top five. The 65-game requirement to be eligible for the award has eliminated Embiid’s eligibility. Jokic is still at the very top. And the other league stars have kept up their supremacy.

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Jokic demonstrated his superiority as an NBA player during the team’s championship run the previous year. This season, he has held onto that title.

The Joker is by far the league’s finest passer, and if he so desired, he could likely top the league in scoring as well. Within the arc, he has been unstoppable, hitting an incredible 62.8 percent of his 2s. His 35.2 percent from three is also not too bad. There is no defense that can hold him off.

Additionally, he has been in excellent health, missing just two games so far this season. His output has been phenomenal, and he has supported the Nuggets throughout the regular season in the wake of Jamal Murray’s injury struggles.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

The reason the Thunder will significantly surpass Vegas’s 44.5 victory total from the preseason is that Gilgeous-Alexander has improved his game even more.

SGA has topped the league in volume driving for the last four seasons and has continued to succeed in this role. It’s hard to halt his shiftiness. His shooting statistics from a year ago, when he was a guard on the First Team All-NBA, have significantly improved.

His defensive game has improved, and he is now a genuine two-way great. He consistently knocks the ball free thanks to his exceptional hand-eye coordination, leading the league in both thefts and deflections per game. In addition, he’s developed into a superb weak-side rim defender who switches to block shots when teammates are fouled.

3. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

This season, nobody has put up as many outstanding performances as Luka. In addition to having the highest point total of any player this season—73—he also recorded a double-double—50 points and 15 assists on Christmas versus the Suns.

In addition to those outstanding performances, he has been incredibly reliable all season, never falling short of 16 points. Despite lingering ailments, he has only missed eight games and has helped lead the Mavs in a very close Western Conference playoff battle.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Antetokounmpo is enjoying yet another year of outstanding play. The Bucks wouldn’t be the same without the Greek Freak, but Damian Lillard hasn’t quite performed at the same level as he did in the previous campaign.

All over the NBA leaderboards is Antetokounmpo. In terms of overall scoring, he ranks second, followed by five in terms of rebounds, 12 in terms of assists, 7 in terms of steals, and 1 in terms of free throw attempts.

Despite having previously won the award twice, Antetokounmpo appears to be mostly hindered by the Bucks’ difficulties and voter weariness. They’ve gone through three coaches in as many years and have struggled to cope with the huge roster turnover. Antetokounmpo persevered despite the chaos to produce yet another outstanding year.

5. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Kawhi has returned to anything close to his best self. After dropping six straight games and making their first trade for James Harden, the Clippers were seen as goners. Rather, they became the league’s hottest team. Leonard has been the main inspiration for that play.

The Claw has always flourished when he can reach his preferred floor locations. He is still unstoppable from midrange today, proving that. The fact that he is shooting a career-high 45.0 percent from three makes him even more difficult to guard.

And Leonard is back to defend himself. He’s been a nightmare one-on-one for the previous several seasons, but now he’s back. He’ll pull the ball from players, giving the impression that he’s stealing a baby’s sweets. Above all, his health is better than it has been in years. Leonard is in the top 40 in minutes played this season and has only missed five games.