Edwards won’t match up statistically with the favorites, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he passes the eye test.

The Denver Nuggets' big man still reigns supreme among the latest NBA MVP ladder. Despite missing some extended time for the Denver Nuggets with a hyperextended left knee, three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic is still atop the current leaderboard to take home the award once again this season.

With the calendar turning to the New Year, the NBA MVP race is starting to take real shape. Contenders are separating themselves, storylines are forming, and sportsbooks are adjusting quickly based on performances and team success.

The NBA is ripe with 30-point-per-game scorers this season, but standing above all of them in the first half of the NBA season is Luka Doncic. His 32 points per game not only lead the league, his 8.8 assists per game rank fourth and his eight rebounds per game also rank 25th.

The Joker went bananas with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists in a 142-138 OT win versus Minnesota on Christmas Day. Denver won that game despite being down three starters and what’s more impressive was Jokic scoring 18 points in OT! Those 18 OT points broke Steph Curry ‘s record of 17 points in 2016.