NBA Power Rankings: Identifying every team's MVP

NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.

This week, we're identifying an MVP for each of the league's 30 teams. Yes, even the bad ones.

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1. Oklahoma City Thunder (46-11)

Previous: 1

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: The Thunder are deep and versatile, but Gilgeous-Alexander is the catalyst for OKC's continued success. The 26-year-old is leading the league in scoring (32.4) and is first on the team in assists and steals.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (48-10)

Previous: 2

Donovan Mitchell: The Cavs star is shooting a career-best 39.5% from downtown and has knocked down the fourth-most triples (197) in the league. Mitchell's 514 points as a pick-and-roll ball-handler is the NBA's sixth-highest mark.

3. Denver Nuggets (38-20)

Previous: 4

Nikola Jokic: Forget the career highs in points (29.2), assists (10.4), and 3-point percentage (44.5) - Jokic carried this team early in the season when the only other starter making consistent contributions was Michael Porter Jr.

4. Boston Celtics (42-16)

Previous: 3

Jayson Tatum: Superstar availability is as impactful as ever, and Tatum's excelled in that regard (along with the usual counting stats). He's one of just five players in the league to total 2,000 minutes this season.

5. New York Knicks (37-20)

Previous: 7

Karl-Anthony Towns: It's been a dream start for Towns in the Big Apple. The former No. 1 overall pick was named an All-Star starter for the first time and is battling Domantas Sabonis for this season's rebounding crown.

6. Memphis Grizzlies (38-20)

Previous: 5

Jaren Jackson Jr.: The big man's strong two-way play helped the Grizzlies overcome Ja Morant's absence. Jackson's averaging a personal-best 22.9 points and is in the running for his second Defensive Player of the Year award in three seasons.

7. Los Angeles Lakers (35-21)

Previous: 6

LeBron James: James is putting up 29 points on 55.7% shooting over his last nine games, including a ludicrous 46% clip on seven 3-point attempts per contest. The 40-year-old is still the most pivotal Laker and has missed just four games all season.

8. Indiana Pacers (32-24)

Previous: 12

Pascal Siakam: Siakam, 30, earned a third All-Star selection this season, expanding his repertoire by shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc and appearing in all 56 of the Pacers' games.

9. Houston Rockets (36-22)

Previous: 8

Alperen Sengun: Houston's newly minted All-Star is among the NBA's top interior scorers - his average of 13.2 paint points ranks seventh. Sengun has done it partly by capitalizing on opponents' lack of effort; his 3.8 second-chance points per game rank sixth in the league.

10. Milwaukee Bucks (32-25)

Previous: 10

Giannis Antetokounmpo: It's one thing for Antetokounmpo to average the second most points of his career (31), but his 60.9% field-goal mark - the highest in the league by a non-center - is symbolic of a player who unfathomably might still be improving in his 12th season.

11. Los Angeles Clippers (31-26)

Previous: 11

Norman Powell: Few players have taken as sizable a leap this season as Powell. Formerly a spark plug off the bench, Powell has shined in the starting five and carried much of the offensive load in Kawhi Leonard's absence.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-27)

Previous: 9

Anthony Edwards: The three-time All-Star has expanded his game, making the most threes in the Association with 236 while averaging a career-best 27.5 points for Minnesota.

13. Golden State Warriors (31-27)

Previous: 13

Stephen Curry: A lot has changed in Golden State, but everything still revolves around Curry. The Warriors are scoring 13 more points per 100 possessions when the two-time MVP is on the floor.

14. Detroit Pistons (32-26)

Previous: 16

Cade Cunningham: The Pistons have eclipsed their win totals for each of the last five seasons due in part to Cunningham's breakthrough campaign. He's posting career bests in scoring (25.8), rebounding (6.3), and assists (9.5).

15. Sacramento Kings (29-28)

Previous: 15

Domantas Sabonis: Despite his team's lackluster performance this season, Sabonis' play remains excellent. The Lithuanian big man leads the league in rebounding (14.5) for the third straight season and has increased his total every campaign.

16. Orlando Magic (29-31)

Previous: 18

Franz Wagner: The German forward edges Paolo Banchero for this season's Magic MVP. Orlando's net rating falls by 13 points when Wagner sits - nobody else produces even half that drop-off.

17. Dallas Mavericks (31-28)

Previous: 23

Kyrie Irving: Irving carried the load with Luka Doncic sidelined and has been a stabilizing presence since the latter's shocking trade. The veteran guard could become the fourth NBA player to produce multiple 50/40/90 campaigns.

18. Miami Heat (26-30)

Previous: 17

Tyler Herro: Amid the Jimmy Butler saga, Herro broke out as the new face of the Heat. He's averaging career highs in points (24), assists (5.6), and field-goal percentage (46.1), which resulted in his first All-Star appearance.

19. Atlanta Hawks (27-31)

Previous: 19

Trae Young: Even with Hawks having a down season, Young continues to shine as an elite playmaker. The 26-year-old is leading the league in assists per game (11.5) while also averaging 24 points.

20. Phoenix Suns (27-31)

Previous: 14

Kevin Durant: Durant's been the only constant in a turbulent Suns season. The 36-year-old is doing everything in his power to take Phoenix to the playoffs, posting 26.9 points, six rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 53.0/40.2/82.8 shooting splits.

21. Portland Trail Blazers (25-33)

Previous: 21

Anfernee Simons: Simons averaged 20 points, five assists, and three rebounds during the Blazers' recent stretch of 10 wins in 11 games. He also made 3.6 triples on 43.9% shooting from deep, showing his value as a sharpshooter.

22. San Antonio Spurs (24-32)

Previous: 20

Victor Wembanyama: Despite being ruled out for the remaining 30 games of the regular season, Wembanyama's an obvious choice. The towering Frenchman has emerged as an elite defender while improving his passing and shooting.

23. Brooklyn Nets (21-36)

Previous: 26

Cameron Johnson: The North Carolina product has come into his own this season. Johnson's averaging career highs in points (19.1), assists (2.9), and field-goal percentage (48.5). He's also posting a 40.6% clip from three on 7.5 attempts per game.

24. Chicago Bulls (23-35)

Previous: 24

Nikola Vucevic: Vucevic, 34, is quietly having his best season with Chicago, recording his highest scoring average (19.1) as a Bull. He's also shooting a career-best 53.3%.

25. Toronto Raptors (18-40)

Previous: 25

Scottie Barnes: The Raptors' cornerstone wing is one of just three NBA players to average at least 15 points, five assists, five rebounds, and a steal and a block apiece. The others are MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising Hawks forward Jalen Johnson.

26. Philadelphia 76ers (20-37)

Previous: 22

Tyrese Maxey: Not much has gone right in Philly this season, but at least Maxey has taken another step toward superstardom. He's averaging the fifth most points in the league with a career-high 27.1.

27. Utah Jazz (14-43)

Previous: 27

Collin Sexton: Lauri Markkanen leads the team in scoring, but he's shooting the second-worst field-goal percentage of his career and holding a negative-5.4 net rating. Sexton has been consistent, averaging an efficient 18.3 points per game.

28. Charlotte Hornets (14-43)

Previous: 29

LaMelo Ball: Melo might be the only bright spot for the basement-dwelling Hornets. Only one other player is averaging at least 27 points and seven assists this season: Nikola Jokic.

29. New Orleans Pelicans (15-43)

Previous: 28

Trey Murphy III: There haven't been many positives for the Pelicans, but Murphy is already proving to be worth his lucrative extension. The fourth-year forward is tallying career highs in both points (22.2) and assists (3.7).

30. Washington Wizards (10-47)

Previous: 30

Jordan Poole: The one-time NBA champion may not be the league's most efficient scorer, but he can still put up points. Poole's averaging a career-high 21 points and a personal-best 37.1% shooting from three.