Monthly MVP Ladder, December Edition

Happy Holidays everyone! No matter what you celebrate, or if you don't celebrate anything at all, we can all be jolly at this time of year. In my opinion their is no better way to do that this December, than watching some great NBA games, I mean other than reading Shark4sports of course. This is the Monthly MVP Ladder December Edition!

5. Anthony Davis

https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/4/590x/Anthony-Davis-1057220.jpg?r=1544520729551

Anthony Davis has been in quite a few trade talks of late, but that isn't stopping him from dominating the NBA. Anthony Davis is averaging 28.1 ppg, 4.7 apg, and 12.4 rpg. Those stats put AD at top 5 in scoring, top 10 in rebounds, and top 10 in assists among forwards.

Anthony Davis once again is proving his case not just for MVP, but for DPOY as well. Anthony Davis is top 3 in blocks and top 10 in steals averaging 2.8 blocks per game and 1.7 steals per game.

A common problem that has been holding AD back from finally capturing his first MVP award has been simply the wins. Anthony Davis and the Pelicans have only 15 wins to 15 losses. For a MVP caliber player, the wins have to be more. Anthony Davis could be much higher on this list if the wins were produced, but there just not happening.

But the blame does not fall on Anthony Davis. The Brow has been dominating, whereas the rest of his team is not stepping up, he has been handedly carrying them to wins, with many 40 point performances, and huge minutes played. In facts Anthony Davis is leading the league with 37 minutes played per game.

Many teams are interested in trading for this monster of a player. Anthony Davis would make any team an immediate championship contender. Whether Davis sticks will the Pels or gets traded to another team, the result will be the same. Davis will dominate, and will prove game after game that he should be a contender for MVP.

4. Kevin Durant

(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Warriors aren't perfect, no team is. What has really emphasized this has been the recent tension between KD and defensive star Draymond Green. According to them "they are all good". There is no way for us to know whether this is really true, but we know one thing. Kevin Durant is really just that good.

Kevin Durant is averaging 29 ppg, 6.1 apg, and 7.8 rrg. Kevin Durant hasn't averaged 29 ppg since is MVP season, and 6.1 apg is a career high for him as well. Although Kevin Durant's 3 point percentage and attempts as lowered significantly, he is making up for it with is spectacular play at the rim.

Just like Anthony Davis, KD is making a huge impact on the defensive floor as well. Last year, Draymond Green was really pushing how good and underrated Kevin Durant was on the opposite side of the floor. He is a presence at the rim, with a block per game, a speedy defender, that you can count on for guarding an opposing team's top scorer. He is everything and more.

KD is a scorer, that's what he is, and it will never change. But this year Durant has been showing that he can be more than just a scorer. He has shown this while Curry missed eleven games, and while Curry and numerous other players weren't fully healthy. He has shown he can be a distributor, a top defender, and an amazing teammate.

KD has been everything the Warriors wanted from him when they signed him back in 2016. Hopefully this can continue into the playoffs and into the Finals, where KD will have a chance to score just like he always does and lead his team to the three-peat club.

3. Joel Embiid

https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/12/05/joel-embiid-sports-illustrated-rising-star-award

Trust the Process. That is a common phrase heard in the NBA, when talking about the 76ers, because this year, the 76ers trusted Joel Embiid, and he has solidified himself as one of the best players in the league at only 24 years old.

The 76ers are 23-14, with Jojo leading the way with 26.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 3.5 apg. These are all career highs for him, and this is just the start for Joel Embiid. Embiid's efficiency is off the charts, and with his athleticism, he is taking over the league.

Although some were surprised with Embiid's level of play this season, many were not. With Joel's talent, and his work ethic, it was only a matter of time before he had his breakout season.

With no other option for teams in stopping The Process, they have resorted to the fouling the 7 footer, which has led to Embiid taking almost 10 ft's per game, putting him at second in the league in free throws attempted, only behind James Harden.

Joel was definitely doubted, just as much he was hyped up. Plagued with injuries in the past three seasons, it left people wondering whether The Process would amount to anything more than a Twitter Entertainer.

There were fans and players that questioned whether Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid is the valuable player on the Sixers roster, but this season has definitely answered that question holistically. Simmons is himself a star and a young talent, with a high ceiling, but as Embiid goes, so do the Sixers.

With Simmons, and Butler on his side, the Sixers are finally a contender after years of telling their fans, to trust the process. The true fans never gave up on Embiid and he delivered, with a MVP caliber season, and a shot at a title for the City of Brotherly Love.

2. Lebron James

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/09/lebron-james-lakers-debut-preseason-photos-nuggets-nba-los-angeles

Lebron may be on a completely different team and in the bright lights of LA, but he still is Lebron James, and he is still doing Lebron James things. With 27.3 ppg, 7.1 apg, and 8.3 rpg, he is leading the Lakers' young, but promising core. Year in year out, Lebron puts up similar stats, and Lebron continues to make his case not just for the MVP award, but the GOAT.

At 34 years old, Lebron hasn't changed a bit. He still has his electric dunks, flashy passes, and scoring ability. Luke Walton is making sure that James isn't overworked, so he is fresh each night, but is still giving Lebron a healthy lot of minutes. Lebron is averaging just over 34 minutes per night, and still showing that age really is just a number.

With a young core of Ball, Ingram, and Kuzma, the Lakers have talent who can potentially grow into stars. With Lebron on the team, these players are taking a step back, because when The King is on the team, he will get the ball. In return they are improving on the court and off it as well.

According to basketballreference.com, James is ranked 3rd in the league in Player Impact Estimate. This is a stat that is calculated based on how much one player affects the team as a whole. Lebron is a leader for this team, but much more as well. He is an inspiration, someone that makes everyone else better, someone that young players and even veterans can look up to.

James is known for helping his teammates and making sure they are in a comfortable situation as well. He is mentoring and improving their game, but always making sure that he will take those clutch shots. No matter what team Lebron is on, he will always push his teammates to become better. His teammates love it, and as they get better, so will the Lakers.

Lebron James has been to eight consecutive NBA Finals. With the Heat and the Cavaliers. For Lebron and the Lakers, the path to reach there may not be so easy. Against the stacked Western Conference that has the stacked Warriors, the high-powered Houston Rockets, and the Westbrook-lead Thunder, it seems highly improbable that James adds another NBA Finals Apperance to his resume this year.

When Lebron joined the Lakers he knew the path wouldn't be easy and he knew that teams like the Warriors and Rockets were going to stand in his way. He still joined this team and that is what makes Lebron the GOAT. Lebron can find success with any team, because he is just that good. He can lift a team far, and make everyone around him better. That is the definition of an MVP.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

https://sneakernews.com/2018/06/27/giannis-antetokounmpo-nike-greek-freak-1/

24 years. 24 years! Apparently 24 years old is all you need to be to be an MVP. At such a young age Giannis is dominating the NBA and lead his team to the best record in the East. Without a co-star on his team, Giannis is motivated to win MVP, and with the production and play that he has been presenting he will.

Giannis is averaging 26.6 ppg, 6.1 apg, 12.8 rpg. Along with this he is second in dunks with 138. He is top 10 in almost every major category, top 10 in points, top 5 in rebounds. Giannis has established himself as an MVP candidate, and arguably top 5 player in the league.

Giannis has proven that not only he can be a unstoppable scorer, but a great playmaker, and all around great teammate. Giannis may not have a co-star to lead the Bucks, but he does have a noteworthy cast that has helped him elevate the Bucks to first in the East

Bledsoe, Middleton, Brogdon, and Lopez are all valuable parts of the Bucks team. They aren't bad, but they aren't good either. Giannis just makes this team one of the best in the league. Giannis single-handedly can take over a game. He has the most points in the paint of any player in the NBA, and it doesn't stop there. His freakish athleticism combined, with his fast speed leads to crazy fastbreaks, and electric dunks.

He can transform a sub-par team to a contender immediately. Giannis on the court changes every teams approach, because with the Greek Freak on the floor no team can stop the Bucks. They have been red-hot as of late. Teams have no answers for Giannis and because of this other players on the Bucks are starting to open up and score more.

When you look at the Bucks, you see an amazing team effort that lead to their dominance, and while this is true, if you trace back to why this is happening every single time you will see the impact of Giannis. He really is their most valuable player and he may be the NBA's MVP as well.

Honorable Mentions: James Harden, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Kyrie Irving.