Kia NBA MVP Race: Latest Power Rankings - April 12th, 2021

#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be hoping to make a late surge for the MVP award

MP - 34.0, PPG - 28.8, AST - 6.2, RPG - 11.4 FG% - 56.5%

Previous MVP Power Rankings - 4th (↑1)

Despite the left knee soreness that has sidelined him for the last five games, reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has risen in our power rankings as he continues his hunt for a historic three-peat of the award.

It is hard to believe that, at the moment, the 26-year-old only has an outside chance of winning the MVP award. The Milwaukee Bucks star is averaging similar numbers while shooting at an improved rate compared to last season.

His recent absence from the Bucks lineup could hurt his chances even more with no word on his return date. In his absence, Milwaukee has gone 2-3 and is giving up too many offensive rebounds and is also struggling with turnovers.

In his final games before his lay-off, Antetokounmpo scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Lakers before exploding for 47 points and 12 rebounds against the Trail Blazers.

He has improved his all-round game, already recording the most triple-doubles in a season with seven, and is posting a career-high offensive rating of 121. It's been another MVP-level season from the two-time winner of the award.

#2 Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid has helped the Philadelphia 76ers to the best record in the East

MP - 32.3, PPG - 29.4, AST - 3.1, RPG - 11.1 FG% - 51.8%

Previous MVP Power Rankings - 3rd (↑1)

"When I'm on the floor, I feel like I've been the best all season, just doing my thing."

That was Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid's response to the MVP debate after leading his side to victory in Oklahoma with 27 points and nine boards in 27 minutes.

.@JoelEmbiid proves his capabilities night in and night out. 27 PTS | 9 REB | 4 BLK📹 presented by @IBX pic.twitter.com/uOQKlHmR7i

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 11, 2021

There's every chance that Embiid will win the NBA MVP race as he's now rated the closest competitor to Jokic in the odds market.

That win over the Oklahoma City Thunder brought the Sixers back to the top of the East, a position they have held for the majority of the season thanks in part to their leader. Embiid is having a career year and is one of the most dominant players in the paint in the NBA.

One of the clearest examples of this was in Philly's win over the Celtics last week in which Embiid finished with 35 points. The 76ers look poised to have their best postseason in years and Embiid will be at the heart of their attempt to win a championship.

#1 Nikola Jokic

Indiana Pacers v Denver Nuggets

MP - 35.4, PPG - 26.2, AST - 8.8, RPG - 10.9 FG% - 56.7%

Previous MVP Power Rankings - 1st (-)

Nikola Jokic has improved his odds even more recently in the race for the NBA MVP award and keeps his position atop our power rankings. The Denver Nuggets big man has been at the heart of their charge up the West, averaging close to a triple-double in each of their last ten games - of which Denver has won eight.

During that time Jokic pulled up his season-average for assists, ranking 4th among all players with 9.6 per game. He ranked 3rd for +/- of players who had participated in all ten games and had either a double-double or triple-double every night.

Nikola Jokic was born to pass a basketball. pic.twitter.com/9TmJckk5GT

— Sky Sports NBA (@SkySportsNBA) April 11, 2021

The Serbian embodies the modern-day NBA center, able to help his team across the floor, shoot threes and dominate in the paint. He is averaging a career-high in shooting percentages from all positions and is putting up more points, rebounds, steals and assists than ever before as the focal point of the Nuggets offense.

Jokic has been the leading candidate to win the NBA MVP award this season. It would take something special for one of the other four candidates on our list to stop him from becoming the first Denver Nuggets player in franchise history to win the MVP award.