NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Power Rankings featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry and more | February 9th, 2022

#3 Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers

Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 3rd (-)

Last Week: Games played - 5; Games won - 2; Games lost - 3

Overall: Games played - 54; Games won - 32; Games lost - 22

Last Week: PPG - 32.0, APG - 5.7, RPG - 11.7

Overall: PPG - 29.1, APG - 4.4, RPG - 10.8

Last Week: BPG - 2.3, FG% - 50.0%

Overall: BPG - 1.4, FG% - 49.9%

Joel Embiid deserves to climb the MVP ladder because he is dominating like never before. The Cameroonian big man is averaging nearly 35 points and 12 rebounds recently and has carried this undermanned Sixers squad night in and night out. He now leads the league in scoring with 29.4 points per game.

However, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered a few losses last week and are now fifth in the East. If Embiid maintains his numbers and the Sixers finish as one of the top four seeds in the conference despite the absences and injuries in the lineup, he has a better chance of winning his first MVP award.

#2 Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during a postgame interview

Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 2nd (-).

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 4; Games lost - 0

Overall: Games played - 54; Games won - 41; Games lost - 13.

Last Week: PPG - 25.2, APG - 8.0, RPG - 6.0

Overall: PPG - 25.7, APG - 6.4, RPG - 5.4

Last Week: 3P% - 47.1%, SPG - 2.0, FT% - 95.2%

Overall: 3P% - 38.1%, SPG - 1.5, FT% - 91.3%

Stephen Curry appears to be out of his shooting slump, and the Golden State Warriors have won their last nine games in a row, the longest active win streak in the NBA. He shot 47% from beyond the arc in his last five games while attempting the most 3-pointers in the league. He also averaged 8 assists per game while grabbing 2 steals a night.

Curry's game-winner and 40 points against Houston boosted his MVP award chances. Despite his lower numbers, he is leading most Vegas sportsbooks as the Warriors hold the second-best record in the NBA at 41-13 and haven't lost a game in over two weeks.

#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks

Previous week's NBA MVP Power Ranking - 1st (-)

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 4; Games lost - 0

Overall: Games played - 56; Games won - 35; Games lost - 21

Last Week: PPG - 33.5, APG - 7.5, RPG - 12.0

Overall: PPG - 29.2, APG - 6.0, RPG - 11.3

Last Week: FG% - 67.6%, BPG - 1.8, 3P% - 53.3%

Overall: FG% - 54.4%, BPG - 1.4, 3P% - 30.3%

It is getting tough to deny Giannis Antetokounmpo's case for winning his third MVP award. The Bucks won every single game last week and the "Greek Freak" averaged 33.5 points, 12 rebounds and 7.5 assists on 67% shooting. Incredibly, he shot 53% from 3-point range while attempting nearly four threes a game.

He dropped 44 points on 17-for-20 shooting (85%) along with 14 rebounds and eight assists to win against LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the road. The Milwaukee Bucks are up to second in the East with a 35-21 record, and Antetokounmpo deserves to be the clear frontrunner as of today.