With the NBA all-star game and break just wrapping up, it's time to resume the regular season and begin the final sprint for the individual trophy every NBA player dreams of. Once again, this year, we are witnessing a frantic race to see who will be voted MVP of this season. Overall, we are entitled to some rather interesting individual seasons.However, the final sprint for the coveted trophy is nowhere near last year's.
Already too short?
Indeed, some players, unless a miracle happens, are already far too late.We can think of a Luka Doncic too hard with his Mavs (18 V / 16 D) who hangs the 8th place in the West (synonymous with Play-intournament ). A start to the season far too weak for the young Slovenian. And for good reason, collective results in saw-tooth patterns, individual statistics below its usual standards; A mixture that does not look good in the eyes of observers and journalists to be able to claim the MVP title. Luka is not alone in this delicate position.Indeed, the point guard of the Warriors, Stephen Curry, makes a first part of the season quite dazzling, with stratospheric statistics in the month of February.We are talking here about intellectual domination and a basketball qi that rubs shoulders with the highest spheres of history.However, rather lackluster collective results will surely not allow him to be a serious candidate in the final run. On the Utah and Jazz side, franchise player Donovan Mitchell is on the best team in the league, and he's the best player.With 24 pts, some 4 rebounds and 4 PDs, the young player also has enough to claim the title of the most "valuable" player of this regular season. Donovan Mitchell is, however, less strong, less spectacular, than all the others and with a statistical production below. For these three players, the season is not over yet and all can still claim the title. 
Serious candidates
It's time to show off the watch, and talk about Damian Lillard. The point guard of the Trail Blazers has a statistical record more than clean (29.8 pts / 4.3 reb / 6.6 PD).His team is rather well placed and 5th in the west. Big wins in big matches against his direct competitors.To sum up, Dame Dolla has her arguments, and very nice arguments. On the side of the Milwaukee Bucks, GiannisAntetokumpo is a little below his standards. TheGreek Giant is nonetheless impressive.His Bucks are 4th in a much weaker Eastern Conference than the West.The strong winger has a very good record in the final race to the MV. However, he will still have to improve the record of his team, while being much more decisive on the end of games if he wants to lift for a 3rd consecutive year, the MVP trophy. Our friend Kawhi Leonard, although silent, lets all his talent speak this season. Offensive and defensive leader of the 4th team in the West, the Clippers winger is a very serious candidate with a more than correct statistical production. Beware, however, of the number of missed matches, something that could weigh big in the balance at the time of the final vote!For Kevin Durant, same problem as Kawhi, Covid has not spared him.When Kevin Durant plays, he's a potential MVP .However, it would be necessary to add victories with him on the field. 
The podium
Like almost every year, Lebron James is in the race, but also on the podium.From the top of his 36 years, the "pépère" is not in his best season statistics (26 pts / 8 reb / 8PD) playing 35 minutes per game, without missing a game.The boss of the best defense of one of the best teams in the league. The best player of all time has not had the right to something he obviously should not like, rest.And for good reason, after the title in October, the training camps in November, and the resumption in December, the one nicknamed the Cyborg is simply breathtaking.Present in major events, LeBron James trivializes the exceptional, from the top of his 36 years. 
After several seasons a little in the hard, outings not very exemplary, a borderline behavior, Joel Embiid seems to have matured off and on the floor. And it goes without saying, the rest follows perfectly, the pivot of the Sixers is titanic.Legend has it that he could even touch England while remaining in France. More seriously, author of a statistical record worthy of an MVP (30 pts / 11reb / 3.3PD) the Cameroonian could well be elected MVP. However, he will surely have to rack up more victories, in an Eastern Conference much weaker than that of the West. Let's talk a little about the so-called Joker, who is most certainly the favorite in the race. Nikolas Jokic has continued to amaze since the beginning of the season. We are talking about a pivot who has the vision of a leader, and the intelligence that goes with it.The pivot of the Nuggets is unstoppable: outstanding actions, huge statistical record (27 pts / 11reb / 9PD). Beyond the statistics, Jokic is at a stratospheric level, the best of his career. However, the collective balance must be much higher, if he wants to crush the final run.
To conclude
In terms of the MVP race, this second half of the season may have a lot of surprises in store for us. Beware of injuries for serious title contenders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MpOjZCBAHE
