Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson are both All-Stars and in the Kia MVP mix this season.
In recognition of the annual appointment of players to hoop in the mid-season showpiece, this Kia Race to the MVP Ladder is dedicated to those who’ll play in next month’s All-Star Game. Every player repping this week’s ladder is an All-Star.
To that point, what better way to salute a pair of participants from one team: Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks?
It would be a vast understatement to suggest their pairing has been successful in their first season together. Towns is the center Brunson never had, and Brunson is the point guard Towns craved.
Brunson checks in at No. 8 on the Ladder based on solid play lately, including 30 points and 15 assists against the Nuggets. Brunson is having an efficient season while ranking No. 9 in scoring. He was the highest American-born scorer last season, and while his average has dipped, it’s understandable: The Knicks added Towns between then and now.
Meanwhile, Brunson is averaging a career-high 7.5 assists, which is understandable since Towns can convert those passes into buckets.
As for Towns, he’s No. 15 in scoring and the NBA’s second-leading rebounder, all while doing everything asked of him … and more. He couldn’t have landed in a better situation after being traded from Minnesota, even though he didn’t want to leave the Timberwolves.
The big winner in this formation of All-Star starters is the Knicks. Heading into February, they are one of the league’s hottest teams, slowly climbing the East standings with a chance to bypass the defending champion Celtics.
Setting the stage this week: Lakers-Knicks always carries a degree of drama and intrigue and Saturday’s matchup in the Garden (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) should be no different. LeBron James playing in the big city will dominate, but sadly a premier big-man matchup between Towns and Anthony Davis won’t happen (Davis is healing from an abdominal strain). What is interesting is how Towns shifted back to center once he joined the Knicks and is having his best season. Davis, however, prefers to play power forward and might get his wish if the Lakers get a decent center at the trade deadline.
The stat to know: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging just under 40 points on 53% shooting over his last six games. In those six games, he made only 10 total 3-pointers.
What they are saying: “There should be 15 guys a team, 30 guys to the game. We can add three more spots to each team. There are so many great players going out there and impacting their team in a positive way that will be snubbed.” — Kevin Durant on whether All-Star rosters should expand to 15 per team.
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 32.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6 assists
His case: Gilgeous-Alexander is fresh off a pair of 50-point games and is the only player to post multiple 50-point games this season. For such a high-volume shooter, his efficiency is impressive (52.8%).
Remember: he’s among the steals leaders and helps inspire OKC’s opportunistic defense. Plus, he has worked much of the season without the aid of a talented big man Chet Holmgren.
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 29.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.1 assists
His case: He’s averaging a triple-double and remains among the league leaders in those three statistical categories. As the season progresses, his staying power will prove a strong argument for him to rise to No. 1. It’s close between him and Gilgeous-Alexander.
Strange thing, though: Denver has lost three straight despite “The Joker’s” dominance. He’ll need his team to perform better to strengthen his case.
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 31.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists
His case: “The Greek Freak” and his high-level consistency rolls on. His three most recent games captured the essence of his season: 39 points and 12 rebounds against the Blazers, 35-18 against the Jazz and 36-13 against the Clippers.
The Bucks lost two of those games, although that certainly wasn’t Antetokounmpo’s fault. What Milwaukee does, or doesn’t do, at the trade deadline could determine its East seeding.
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Season stats: 24.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists
His case: Towns has been steady all season and wears the unofficial title as Best Center In The East, partly because of his stellar play and, to be fair, partly because former Kia MVP Joel Embiid has struggled with injuries and absences.
Towns and the Knicks managed to handle Jokić and the Nuggets on Wednesday. They’ll face James and the Lakers next.
Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Season stats: 26.7 points, 9 rebounds, 5.4 assists
His case: Tatum remains one of the premier players in the league, all while doing so for an elite team. That said, his play of late has also reflected that of the Celtics as both appear to have hit a wall.
Tatum is averaging 24 points, eight rebounds and 5.4 assists in January, a bit of a decline from previous months. He’ll need to elevate his play to remain in the top five.
6. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
9. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
10. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
And five more (listed alphabetically): Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies; Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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