MVP Race:NBA.COM
Updated: January 25, 2003
Updated: January 25, 2003
- 1. Tracy McGrady 6-8 SG Orlando /
Statistics: 30.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.60 spg, 0.97 bpg, 46.8 FG%
With Grant Hill sidelined most of the time, he's been playing an even bigger offensive role for his team lately. Defenses have been more focused on slowing him down, which has not prevented him from scoring an awful lot.
- 2. Kobe Bryant 6-6 SG LA Lakers /
Statistics: 27.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg 7.2 apg, 2.12 spg, 44.2 FG%
Has moved ahead of Allen Iverson in the scoring charts while averaging more than seven assists per game. A selfish player?
- 3. Kevin Garnett 6-11 PF Minnesota /
Statistics: 21.8 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.44 spg, 1.56 bpg, 45.7 FG%
Wally Szczerbiak and Terrell Brandon are not playing, so you could say Kevin Garnett has almost single-handily taken the Minnesota Timberwolves to the middle of the pack in the Western Conference.
- 4. Shaquille O'Neal 7-1 C LA Lakers
Statistics: 26.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.19 bpg, 57.4 FG%
Business as usual for Shaq. He would probably lead the league in scoring if he played 40 minutes per contest.
- 5. Tim Duncan 7-0 PF San Antonio /
Statistics: 23.1 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.88 bpg, 49.4 FG%
He is the second most dominant player in the game and has started to put that clear again in the past few weeks after a so-so start.
- 6. Jason Kidd 6-4 PG New Jersey /
Statistics: 20.4 ppg, 8.9 apg, 5.9 rpg, 2.18 spg, 46.1 FG%, 39.3 FG%
His percentages from beyond the arc are now better than his field-goal percentages were last season. That may tell you something about how much his jump shot has improved.
- 7. Dirk Nowitzki 7-0 PF Dallas /
Statistics: 22.4 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.53 spg, 1.17 bpg, 44.9 FG%
The German forward is averaging career-highs in rebounds, assists and steals. He used to shoot the ball better in previous seasons, though.
- 8. Chris Webber 6-10 PF Sacramento
Statistics: 22.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.66 spg, 46.4 FG%, 57.1 FT%
There is no other pure power forward in the league with such a big offensive arsenal. For some reason, he's struggling from the charity stripe this year.
- 9. Gary Payton 6-4 PG Seattle
Statistics: 21.7 ppg, 9.3 apg, 4.7 rpg, 1.53 spg, 46.0 FG%
Things have not been going well for the Sonics lately, but you can't hardly put the blame on Payton.
- 10. Steve Francis 6-3 PG Houston /
Statistics: 23.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.61 spg, 43.6 FG%
Francis may not be as impressive as he was earlier this season, but he is still one of the best point guards in the NBA this year.
- 11. Paul Pierce 6-6 SG Boston /
Statistics: 25.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.06 spg, 38.6 FG%
He's been scoring more and not so often passing the ball lately. A lock for the All-Star Game, but not a contender for the MVP Award right now.
- 12. Allen Iverson 6-0 SG Philadelphia /
Statistics: 26.8 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.9 rpg, 2.82 spg, 39.2 FG%
He's been shooting below 36 per cent from the floor for the last two weeks. Too bad -- even for Iverson standards.
- 13. Jermaine O'Neal 6-11 PF Indiana /
Statistics: 20.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.62 bpg, 47.9 FG%
This Jermaine O'Neal has nothing to do with the one that showed up in the World Championship. By far, the most dominant player near the rim in the Eastern Conference.
- 14. Elton Brand 6-8 PF LA Clippers
Statistics: 18.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.13 bpg, 2.2 apg, 49.3 FG%
He's putting up numbers similar to those of Jermaine O'Neal. Unlike O'Neal, he's losing.
- 15. Antoine Walker 6-9 PF Boston /
Statistics: 22.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.00 spg, 39.4 FG%
Not as good as he was last year, but a factor in every game he plays with the Boston Celtics