NBA MVP race 2020-21: Top 5 favorites for the award right now

Star players from across the NBA have the started the 2020-21 season with a bang, leading their teams single-handedly despite a crammed pre-season. Some of the performances in the first few weeks of the season have reignited the conversation surrounding the NBA MVP race 2020-21.

During the 2019-20 season, the league battled the covid-19 pandemic brilliantly giving us the first-ever NBA bubble, which eventually culminated with LA Lakers bring crowned the Champions.

What the NBA and its players have managed to do during these difficult times is truly commendable. After the shortest offseason, there were concerns about players resting and there were speculations of a dull start to the season but so far we have had plenty of jaw-dropping performances and astonishing stat-lines from supstars across the league, which brings us to the NBA MVP race 2020-21.

Players currently leading the NBA MVP race 2020-21

With Giannis Antetokounmpo winning back-to-back MVP's in the last 2 season, the consensus is that the media fraternity will name a new winner this season. That coupled with some subline performances to start the season, NBA MVP race for the 2020-21 campaign is already a very tight one.

In this article, we take a look at 5 players who are currently the front-runners to win the 2020-21 NBA MVP award.

5) Stephen Curry

NBA 2020-21 Season Average - 29.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.0 SPG

Golden State Warriors v Brooklyn Nets

The former 2-time MVP Stephen Curry started the season slowly, in the absence of Klay Thompson but in the last 10 days, has produced performances that only go to cement his place as the GREATEST shooter of all-time.

Early on there were many questions surrounding Curry as people wondered whether he was the same man from the pre-Kevin Durant era. It was against Portland Trail Blazers, before which he had already made a record 105 consecutive three-pointers in practice that Steph Curry really found his rhythm. He lit Damian Lillard and crew, scoring 62 points in just 36 minutes, making 8 of 16 3-pointers.

Right now the 3-time NBA Champion is averaging 29.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.0 SPG. With Klay out this season, Golden State Warriors destiny lies completely in the hands of Stephen Curry. If he can manage to take them into the post-season, it will surely put him among the top favorites who can take home the NBA MVP trophy home this year.

That’s that flow like water sound! 💦 Nothing better... #DubNation #CurryBrand @DrinkOxigen pic.twitter.com/B31Ik3CHsD

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) January 4, 2021

4) Paul George

NBA 2020-21 Season Average - 24.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.6 SPG

Los Angeles Clippers v Utah Jazz

Paul Geroge is on fire right now, after a brutal loss to the Denver Nuggets in the bubble there were questions whether LA clippers made the right choice handing him a 4-year $190 million extension.

But just a few months on, that choice seems to be the perfect one. Paul George is currently playing at an elite level on both sides of the floor. The former Indiana Pacers star has managed to pull his team ahead, even when co-star Kawhi Leonard is not in the game.

Scoring buckets, dropping dimes & grabbing rebounds... all made look easy 🙌Zach LaVine 🆚 Paul George Pts: ZL 4️⃣5️⃣ PG 2️⃣8️⃣3PT: ZL 1️⃣0️⃣ PG 0️⃣5️⃣#OnlyHere | @ZachLaVine @Yg_Trece pic.twitter.com/weekAdmAV1

— NBAIndia (@NBAIndia) January 11, 2021

PG-13 has made some clutch shots already this season, and is averaging 24.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.6 SPG. During the 2018-2019 campaign Paul George finished 3rd in the MVP race behind Giannis and James Harden. If he can manage to steady this pace for the complete regular season and Clippers manage to have a top-2 record in the West, then he could once again find himself right in the middle of the NBA MVP race conversation.

3) LeBron James

NBA 2020-21 Season Average - 24.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.0 SPG

Los Angeles Lakers v Houston Rockets

Year 18 and LeBron James is the best player in the league by far and right now, there is no debate about it. After seeing him win his 4th NBA Finals MVP in the Orlando bubble, many around the league have started taking him for granted. For the King his sole focus is on helping the Los Angeles Lakers to repeat and hopefully in the process get his 5th Finals MVP trophy pushing him closer to MJ.

Even though LeBron James had the shortest off-season of his career, he has played all 11 games so far and is averaging 24.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.0 SPG. It is mainly due to James that Lakers find themselves with the best record in the NBA at 8-3. Even though he has AD alongside him, expect a few in the media to definitely keep LeBron in their heads while voting for this years NBA MVP race 2020-21.

2) Joel Embiid

NBA 2020-21 Season Average - 24.6 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.1 SPG

Philadelphia 76ers v Brooklyn Nets

After two consecutive failures in the post-season, it looks like Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is finally playing to his full potential. A lot of credit should go to Doc Rivers whose arrival in the 76ers camp has brought a new life to the team.

Even though there were rumors linking James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers, partnership between Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid seems to be flourishing under Doc Rivers.

The 76ers currently occupy the top-spot in the Eastern Conference, with Joel Embiid averaging 24.6 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.1 SPG. Many expected Embiid to be a MVP contender at some point in his career, given the skills he possess. One would think looking at the 76ers start that the time has come to give the Cameroonian the recognition he deserves.

1)Nikola Jokic

NBA 2020-21 Season Average - 24.3 PPG, 10.2 APG, 11.2 RPG

Denver Nuggets v Sacramento Kings

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is right now averaging a triple-double. He is a 7ft center who has produced mind-boggling numbers this season, including 17 assists in one game. Let that sink in for a moment. Here are the Joker's stats through the first 10 games of the season 24.3 PPG, 10.2 APG, 11.2 RPG.

Denver Nuggets, who reaced the Western Conference Finals last season have struggled so far with a 5-5 record. However, Nikola Jokic is doing something that we have never seen a center do in the modern era. He has become a leader on the team along with Jamal Murray.

if Jokic continues to dominate over the next few weeks and Denver Nuggets manage to improve their ranking further, it will be hard to see how the media fraternity doesn't see him as the favortie to win the NBA MVP race 2020-21. on