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 from each of the league's 30 teams. For this exercise, the NBA's strict 65-game requirement for individual awards does not apply. Take that, Adam Silver.

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1. Oklahoma City Thunder (51-15)

Previous: 3

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Gilgeous-Alexander is the presumptive favorite to win the league's MVP award again, and the Thunder's 5-4 mark during his recent nine-game absence reaffirms how vital he is to their success. This one should be abundantly obvious.

2. San Antonio Spurs (48-17)

Previous: 1

Victor Wembanyama: Considering Wembanyama is playing just 29.3 minutes per game, you could argue that he's the league's most productive player at both ends. One thing is for certain: he's the Spurs' MVP.

3. Boston Celtics (43-22)

Previous: 4

Jaylen Brown: It's a minor miracle the Celtics are this good after entering the season with a threadbare frontcourt and without Jayson Tatum. Brown has rightly received credit, courtesy of career highs in scoring (28.3), boards (7.1), and assists (5.1).

4. Detroit Pistons (46-18)

Previous: 2

Cade Cunningham: The All-Star guard is not only the Pistons' MVP but among the league's top-five candidates. He's second in the NBA in assists (9.9) and boasts a 45.9% field-goal percentage despite high usage. An All-NBA first-team nod awaits.

5. New York Knicks (41-25)

Previous: 7

Jalen Brunson: Not surprisingly, Brunson tops the Knicks in scoring (26.7) and assists (6.5), while his career-high 7.4 attempts from deep have made the shifty guard more challenging to defend. He's also one of the league's elite scorers in clutch scenarios.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-25)

Previous: 9

Anthony Edwards: The All-Star Game MVP ranks third in the league in scoring (29.3) while shooting 49% from the field and 40.2% from deep. He's also averaging 2.2 stocks (steals plus blocks), highlighting his often overlooked defensive contributions.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (40-25)

Previous: 5

Donovan Mitchell: The Cavs' campaign has been a tale of two halves - one underwhelming and one very good. However, Mitchell has been a constant source of reliable results, and his career-best 28.4 points lead the team for a fourth straight season.

8. Houston Rockets (41-25)

Previous: 8

Kevin Durant: The Rockets boast a core of emerging stars, but Durant is still their best player. The 37-year-old leads the team with 26.1 points on incredible 51/41/89 shooting splits as he seeks to become just the 10th player in NBA history to average 50/40/90.

9. Los Angeles Lakers (40-25)

Previous: 10

Luka Doncic: The NBA's scoring leader (32.5) is arguably having the best season of his career despite the Lakers' lineup and consistency issues. His 57.6% mark on 2-point shots is remarkable considering he lacks the first step to consistently get to the rim.

10. Denver Nuggets (39-26)

Previous: 6

Nikola Jokic: Jamal Murray deserves praise, but Jokic remains the Nuggets' most important player and the reason they own the league's best offensive rating (121.4). That figure soars to an absurd 125.3 when he plays and plummets to 112.2 when he sits.

11. Orlando Magic (35-28)

Previous: 17

Paolo Banchero: The fourth-year forward is averaging 26.2 points, 9.2 boards, and 5.7 assists on 50.8% shooting since the All-Star break. He's just one of four players to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists across that stretch, giving him the edge over Desmond Bane.

12. Phoenix Suns (38-27)

Previous: 12

Devin Booker: Dillon Brooks' fractured hand and subsequent spell on the sidelines make Booker an automatic pick here. Although his shooting percentages have marginally dropped, he's still Phoenix's offensive engine, leading scorer, and most important player.

13. Toronto Raptors (36-28)

Previous: 11

Scottie Barnes: The Raptors have plenty of players who can get buckets, but none who perform at both ends of the court with the same consistency and reliability as Barnes. The two-time All-Star should get consideration for All-Defensive first-team honors.

14. Miami Heat (37-29)

Previous: 13

Norman Powell: Let's not be victims of recency bias after Bam Adebayo's unethical 83-point outburst and instead recognize first-time All-Star Powell's late-career ascension. The 32-year-old leads the Heat with a career-high 22.5 points on 47.3% shooting in his 11th campaign.

15. Atlanta Hawks (34-31)

Previous: 19

Jalen Johnson: Johnson's breakthrough campaign altered the Hawks' long-term trajectory, giving the franchise the final impetus to trade Trae Young and build around the first-time All-Star. He leads the team in points (23), rebounds (10.4), and assists (7.9).

16. Charlotte Hornets (33-33)

Previous: 18

Kon Knueppel: The Hornets sharpshooter has already smashed the NBA's record for 3-pointers in a season by a rookie, and his lightning-quick rise has given Charlotte a future franchise icon to build around after countless years of ineptitude.

17. Philadelphia 76ers (35-30)

Previous: 14

Tyrese Maxey: The Sixers have thrust the franchise leader status upon Maxey, and the two-time All-Star has obliged. He leads the team in scoring (29), assists (6.7), steals (a league-high two), and minutes (38.3) on 46.1% shooting from the field.

18. Los Angeles Clippers (32-32)

Previous: 16

Kawhi Leonard: As if there was any doubt about Leonard being the Clippers' MVP. They're 4-10 without him this season, and his red-hot run of form in December and January sparked the team's revival and ascension toward a play-in spot.

19. Golden State Warriors (32-32)

Previous: 15

Steph Curry: Jimmy Butler is out for the remainder of the campaign, and the Warriors have a better net rating with Draymond Green on the bench. This pick was always going to be Curry, even if he's missed 26 games due to an assortment of injuries.

20. Portland Trail Blazers (31-35)

Previous: 20

Deni Avdija: The sixth-year forward is among the favorites to win Most Improved Player, and for good reason. Avdija is averaging a career-high 24.3 points on 46.1% shooting while taking a sizeable leap as a playmaker with a team-high 6.7 assists.

21. Milwaukee Bucks (27-37)

Previous: 22

Giannis Antetokounmpo: The 10-time All-Star would still be the Bucks' MVP even if he appeared in only a dozen games this season. That's a testament to his contributions and shows how little star power this team has.

22. Memphis Grizzlies (23-41)

Previous: 21

Jaylen Wells: Slim pickings here, especially with Ja Morant's decline and absences. However, Wells is having a solid season, appearing in all but one of Memphis' games and starting all 63 of those in a Grizzlies campaign marred by injuries and departures.

23. New Orleans Pelicans (21-45)

Previous: 28

Trey Murphy III: The Pelicans have largely been an afterthought, but not at Murphy's expense. He's averaging career highs in points (22), boards (5.6), assists (3.8), and steals (1.5) while leading the team in minutes (35.4) and contributing on the defensive end.

24. Chicago Bulls (27-38)

Previous: 25

Josh Giddey: The Australian is essentially the last man standing after the Bulls cleaned house at the deadline. Giddey has cooled off a bit after a hot start, but he's still leading Chicago in points (17.7), rebounds (8.4), and assists (8.7).

25. Utah Jazz (20-45)

Previous: 23

Keyonte George: This was a toss-up with Lauri Markkanen, but George gets the nod for his breakthrough season. He ranks second on the Jazz in scoring (23.8), assists (6.2), and minutes (33.3), and has appeared in nine more games than Markkanen.

26. Dallas Mavericks (21-44)

Previous: 26

Cooper Flagg: No room for debate here. Flagg has been a lone bright spot for a Mavs team deliberately plummeting toward rock bottom. He recently became the second-youngest player in NBA history to tally 1,000 points, trailing only LeBron James.

27. Sacramento Kings (16-50)

Previous: 30

Maxime Raynaud: Few would have expected the 42nd pick in the 2025 draft to turn into a potential franchise cornerstone. Raynaud has exceeded expectations amid a season in which Sacramento's veterans have been unreliable and injured.

28. Washington Wizards (16-48)

Previous: 24

Alex Sarr: The second-year center has made a noticeable leap this season, transforming into a more efficient scorer and shooter with far better discipline from behind the arc. He's also improved his rebounding, low-post playmaking, and rim protection.

29. Brooklyn Nets (17-48)

Previous: 29

Michael Porter Jr.: It's hard to soar like an eagle when you're surrounded by turkeys, but Porter has tried his best in Brooklyn. He leads the Nets in scoring (24.2) on 46.3% shooting, an impressive percentage considering his stark spike in volume this campaign.

30. Indiana Pacers (15-50)

Previous: 27

Pascal Siakam: The Pacers have shrewdly navigated a lost year due to Tyrese Haliburton's injury and are slated to secure a prized pick in a stacked draft. Siakam, meanwhile, has been Indiana's inspirational leader this season, rightfully earning a fourth All-Star nod.