Kia MVP Ladder: Top 5 holds steady at All-Star break

Domantas Sabonis finished with a triple-double and the win in a head-to-head matchup with reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Setting the stage this weekend are the 14 players listed in this edition of Kia Race to the MVP Ladder set to showcase their talents at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

Of course, we’ll highlight the top five individually as always.

But first, let’s discuss a player on this list who isn’t playing in the All-Star Game.

Sacramento Kings forward/center Domantas Sabonis snapped a string of three consecutive triple-doubles Wednesday in a 102-98 road win over the Denver Nuggets. The vet logged his 50th double-double in the game and tallied three steals. The performance helped the 27-year-old conjure his third season with 50 double-doubles or more.

Yet the three-time All-Star finds himself and teammate De’Aaron Fox (who has 19 30-point games this season) on the outside looking in after the NBA announced the Western Conference All-Stars for 2024.

Naturally, the word “snub” immediately comes to mind.

But the talent pool in the West proved deep enough to sink the prospects for the seven-year veteran to return as an All-Star to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where he previously played for the Pacers for nearly five seasons.

One stat to know: 18 — That’s the number of triple-doubles registered by Sabonis this season, which leads the NBA. With 50 career triple-doubles, Sabonis ranks as just the 11th player to reach that milestone and he’s sixth among active players in career triple-doubles.

What they’re saying: “It’s a tough talent pool. The best players are there. It would have been an honor and a privilege to be there with everyone.” — Sabonis, on not being named a 2024 All-Star.

Keep track of how our MVP rankings continue to evolve throughout the season.

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

Season stats: 26.1 ppg, 12 rpg, 8.9 apg

His case: They’ll say the sky is falling in Denver with the club mired in just its second three-game losing streak of the season. Against Sabonis and the Kings on Wednesday, Jokic snapped a 15-game run of games with 20 points or more.

The two-time MVP failed to post a double-double for just the ninth time this season while finishing 0-of-6 from 3-point range. Jokic needed this break.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

Season stats: 31.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 6.5 apg

His case: The first-time All-Star starter owns the MVP momentum going into the break having spoiled Shaquille O’Neal’s Orlando jersey retirement night Tuesday with a 32-point effort in a 127-113 Oklahoma City victory.

The 25-year-old reeled off 13 points during a dominant five-minute stretch in the third quarter of that game. Second in the league in points per game, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks No. 1 in steals (115) and is just 14 points from passing Giannis Antetokounmpo (1,662) for the league lead in total points.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 3

Season stats: 31.1 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 6.4 apg

His case: Antetokounmpo goes into All-Star break tracking toward becoming the first player in NBA history to average 30-plus points on 60% shooting in a season. But overall, the two-time MVP and the team need this time away to work on getting everyone on the same page.

Milwaukee’s 113-110 loss at Memphis on Thursday demonstrated the choppy waters the Bucks continue to navigate in the wake of the firing of first-year coach Adrian Griffin and the hiring of Doc Rivers.

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last week’s ranking: No. 4

Season stats: 34.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 9.5 apg

His case: Named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Mavericks to a 4-0 week in which he averaged nearly a triple-double, Doncic led his team to two more victories going into the break.

Circle the calendar for what should be a fun matchup coming out of the break on Thursday against Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns (7:30 ET, TNT), followed by a four-game road trip.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

Season stats: 27.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.8 apg

His case: Kawhi Leonard is breathing down Tatum’s neck for this spot. But the 25-year-old lit up Brooklyn for 31 of his 41 points Tuesday in the first half, dialing up his third 40-point game of the season and 25th of his career.

Tatum torched the Nets again the next night, combining with Derrick White for 47 points in a game that all of Boston’s starters sat in the fourth quarter.

The next five

T-6. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (Last week’s ranking: No. 6)T-6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (Last week’s ranking: No. 7)8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (Last week’s ranking: No. 9)9. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (Last week’s ranking: No. 8)10. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (Last week’s ranking: No. 10)

And five more (listed alphabetically): Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns; Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers; Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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