The race for MVP | Luka Doncic, the lethal weapon

For over a decade, Basket USA has been offering it to you Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”. This week, we decided to focus on the players who are the most productive in the attack, that is, those who score the most points and those who create the most points thanks to their assists, on 2-pt or 3-pt baskets.

At the origin of this idea: the crazy performance that Donovan Mitchell achieved against the Bulls, last Monday. Author of 71 points and 11 assists (!) that night, the Cavaliers rear end generated at least… 99 points in this match: 71 of his scoring and 28 of his assists!

It is, quite simply, the second highest total in the history of a meeting, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 104 points in March 1962, but ahead of James Harden’s 95 points in December 2016…

Top 10 players who have generated the most points in a match
(Marking + aids)

104 (100+4) — Wilt Chamberlain (1962)
99 (71+28) — Donovan Mitchell (2023)
95 (53+42) —James Harden (2016)
91 (56+35) —James Harden (2017)
88 (44+44) —Oscar Robertson (1966)
87 (31+56) —Bob Cousy (1959)
86 (81+5) —Kobe Bryant (2006)
86 (60+26) —James Harden (2018)
86 (49+37) —Trae Young (2019)
86 (56+30) — Trae Young (2022)

Luka Doncic was involved in 51% of the Mavs points!

Therefore, taking inspiration from this statistic, we thought about which players could have the most points since the start of the season, in scoring and creation, and then combined these two aspects.

Unsurprisingly, we just found the cream of the crop of the league’s scorers / creators. Those through whom everything goes in attack and therefore those who give the most problems to opposing coaches, when preparing for matches. It is no coincidence, either, that these are the only candidates for the title of MVP 2023 and one of the three All-NBA teams at the end of the season…

Top 10 scoring players in 2022/23
(Moderate)

34.0 —Luka Doncic
33.5 —Joel Embiid
31.7 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
30.9 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
30.8 —Jayson Tatum
30.0 —Stephen Curry
29.7 —Kevin Durant
29.1 —LeBron James
28.8 — Donovan Mitchell
27.5 —Trae Young

Top 10 players who created the most points with their passes, in 2022/23
(Moderate)

28.3 —James Harden
27.4 —Tyrese Haliburton
24.3 —Nikola Jokic
23.9 —Trae Young
23.4 —Luka Doncic
21.8 —Chris Paul
20.7 —Mike Conley
20.3 —LaMelo Ball
20.0 — Ja Morant
19.7 —Russell Westbrook

Top 10 most productive players, in 2022/23
(Average, points + points by assists)

57.4 —Luka Doncic
51.4 —Trae Young
50.3 —James Harden
49.3 —Nikola Jokic
47.7 —Tyrese Haliburton
47.2 — Ja Morant
47.0 —Stephen Curry
46.7 —LeBron James
46.4 — Damian Lillard
45.6 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The long-time regulars in this type of ranking, LeBron James, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and other Stephen Curry, are always well positioned, as well as newcomers like Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or even Tyrese. Haliburton. A Tyrese Haliburton who cemented his status as the leading maestro there, with so many points created on 2-pts or 3-pts for the Pacers, thanks to his assists.

As for Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, two of the big favorites for the MVP trophy, they confirmed their importance in the game of their respective franchises. It is more clear for the Slovenian, who was involved in just over half (51%) of the Mavericks’ points: 57.4, from 112.4!

The Jokic — Haliburton — Young trio try to keep up

Now, when we look at the totals and not the averages, which makes it possible to highlight the regularity and the stability of some, we see that Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Tyrese Haliburton and other Trae Young are, from in the new, present at the top of these various ranks.

Top 10 scoring players in 2022/23
(Total)

1,258 —Luka Doncic
1,202 —Jayson Tatum
1,158 —Kevin Durant
1,114 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
1,078 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
1,069 —DeMar DeRozan
1,045 — Jaylen Brown
1,038 — Donovan Mitchell
1,000 —Julius Randle
989 —Trae Young

Top 10 players who created the most points with their passes, in 2022/23
(Total)

1,068 —Tyrese Haliburton
900 —Nikola Jokic
866 —Luka Doncic
862 —Trae Young
748 —Russell Westbrook
679 — Domantas Sabonis
679 —James Harden
662 —Mike Conley
660 — Tre Jones
659 — Ja Morant

Top 10 most productive players, in 2022/23
(Total, points + points by assists)

2,124 —Luka Doncic
1,861 —Tyrese Haliburton
1,851 —Trae Young
1,825 —Nikola Jokic
1,668 —Kevin Durant
1,642 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
1,633 —Jayson Tatum
1,611 —DeMar DeRozan
1,558 — Ja Morant
1,535 — Giannis Antetokounmpo

Some relatively famous names, such as those of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum or DeMar DeRozan, take the opportunity to enter the Top 10. We will also appreciate seeing the names of designers who are not often given attention. , but who is less brilliant for all that, like Mike Conley or the young Tre Jones.

In any case, if some still doubt, they have confirmation here that Luka Doncic is really a headache to deal with, with his qualities as a scorer and creator. Naturally, the last word goes to Stephen Silas, the coach of the Rockets, who was able to talk to the genius of the Mavs when he helped Rick Carlisle in Dallas, and recently explained: “ His bruises always set him apart from others. Now he adds scoring to his passes and that makes him a nightmare to defend and prepare for. »

Race to the MVP 2023: our Top 5

1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 27 wins, 13 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 37 are contested out of 40 possible.
Statistics: 25.0 pts, 10.8 reb, 9.7 ft, 1.4 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.4 ft in 34 min.
Percentages: 62% on shots, 38% on 3-pts and 82% on throws.

2 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 29 wins, 12 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 39 are disputed out of 41 possible.
Statistics: 30.8 pts, 8.1 reb, 4.2 pds, 1.1 int, 0.8 ctr and 2.7 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 47% in shots, 35% in 3-pts and 86% in throws.

3 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Assessment: 23 wins, 18 losses – 4th in the West.
Matches: 37 are disputed out of 41 possible.
Statistics: 34.0 pts, 8.8 reb, 8.7 pds, 1.6 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.7 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 50% shooting, 36% 3-pt and 74% throwing.

4 – Kevin Durant (Nets)
Assessment: 27 wins, 13 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 39 are disputed out of 40 possible.
Statistics: 29.7 pts, 6.7 reb, 5.3 pds, 0.8 int, 1.5 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 36 min.
Percentages: 56% on shots, 38% on 3-pts and 93% on throws.

5 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 26 wins, 14 losses – 3rd in the East.
Matches: 34 are disputed out of 40 possible.
Statistics: 31.7 pts, 11.8 reb, 5.2 ft, 0.8 int, 0.9 ctr and 4.1 ft in 34 min.
Percentages: 53% shooting, 25% 3-pt and 66% throwing.

Mentions : Joel Embiid (Sixers), Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers), Julius Randle (Knicks)…