LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 11: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers has the ball knocked loose on a drive against Kristaps Porzingis #6 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 11: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers has the ball knocked loose on a drive against Kristaps Porzingis #6 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images)

NBA Awards Watch

NBA Bubble MVP Ladder: Where’s Damian Lillard, Devin Booker and Luka Doncic?

by Dylan Carter Follow @DylanHCarter
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NBA bubble, MVP, Damian Lillard

NBA bubble, MVP, Damian Lillard (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)

The league will crown an NBA Bubble MVP for their play and the race is fierce between Damian Lillard, Devin Booker and Luka Doncic. Here is our Hoops Habit MVP ladder.

In light of the NBA bubble restart proceeding with flying colors, the league is going to show recognition for the players’ efforts in the eight seeding games, with awards including MVP. There’s a legitimate case to be made that the best basketball of the season has been played inside the bubble with the usual suspects (including players like Damian Lillard, Devin Booker and Luka Doncic with incredible performances) giving their all with some unexpected candidates emerging along the way.

The beauty of it all is that we’re seeing basketball in its purest form. Without the hassle of travel or homecourt advantage, these players are going out and leaving it all on the court, allowing their games to do the talking for them. We get to see the best of the best duke it out for playoff stature and a chance to win the most unusual NBA title in sports history.

Before we get on to the top-five candidates for Orlando Bubble MVP, here are the five honorable mentions who deserve recognition, but likely won’t be finalists for the award.

10. PF/C Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks: 

Most of Dallas’ roster is very solid within their roles but outside of Doncic, there wasn’t much star power on this team until they traded for Kristaps Porzingis. It took him some time to get re-acclimated to game-pace and intensity after rehabbing from an ACL tear, but Porzingis is back and better than ever.

Kristaps was dominant in six games in Orlando, averaging 30.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Unfortunately for him, he has another MVP candidate on his team, which greatly decreases his value in this conversation. Still, Porzingis gives the Mavs a shot to cause trouble in the postseason.

9. C Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: 

We’ve seen better from Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets than their .500 record in Orlando but you have to hand it to Jokic — He held it down for this team in their most desperate hour. Most of Denver’s most influential players are either working their way back or haven’t played in Orlando, but Jokic made it easier for the less-experienced players to leave their marks on this season. For that, he deserves to be recognized.

8. PG/SG Derrick White, San Antonio Spurs: 

Believe it or not, the San Antonio Spurs had the fourth-best Net Rating in the NBA bubble despite coming in with no expectations. This was due largely to the leap that guard Derrick White showed in limited action. As he entered the starting lineup, the Spurs’ defense took a huge step forward.

White isn’t afraid to put his body on the line as he led all players in charges during the restart and chipped a tooth in the process. San Antonio’s net rating was 12.4 points better with White on the floor and the perimeter defense and three-level scoring he brought to the table gave them a legitimate shot at every game they participated in. That has to count for something.

7. SF/PF Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics: 

With the exception of his first game, Boston Celtics wing Jayson Tatum was exceptional as the leader of the team’s leader in Orlando. His 22.4 points and six rebounds per game were on-par with what he did during the second half of the season before the league shut down, which is still incredibly impressive.

For Tatum, it’s more about the ability to make his team better than anything. The Celtics needed star power to be a legitimate contender in the East and he’s finding it within himself to be that guy. If you remove his implosion against Milwaukee from his seven-game slate, Tatum was at 25.3 points per game.

6. SF/PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: 

Some may be surprised that Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t higher on the list, but his play inside the bubble wasn’t all too surprising. What he did in Orlando was about what’s expected from him based on how he played out of it, so he doesn’t get into that top five.

Giannis is probably going to win the regular-season MVP, so giving him the NBA bubble MVP for six solid games at .500 isn’t going to cut it for this award.

Next: Number 5

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