The inaugural In-Season Tournament enters its final stage in Las Vegas, where the first-ever NBA Cup and the competition’s Most Valuable Player award will be won and awarded.
The MVP selection “will be based on the players’ performance in both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.” With relatively few games and only eight total teams advancing out of Group Play, that means winning matters even more in the sprint for this award.
Here’s a look at which players are claiming the inside track toward Tournament MVP honors.
1. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Tournament stats: 28.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 13.4 apg, 1.6 spg, 50.5 FG%
If the In-Season Tournament is a preview of what Haliburton can do on a big stage, the rest of the Eastern Conference should be very worried about the possibility of seeing Indiana in the playoffs.
Haliburton put on a show Monday in the Pacers’ Knockout Rounds victory over Boston, including a masterful seven-point, six-assist fourth quarter. His step-back 3-pointers, showtime assists and overall persona fit the moment perfectly.
The 23-year-old All-Star followed up that performance with a brilliant encore in the Semifinals. Haliburton’s 27 points and 15 rebounds won his head-to-head matchup with Damian Lillard and propelled the Pacers past Milwaukee.
Not Haliburton faces his top competition for MVP honors in the championship game: LeBron James and the Los Angles Lakers (Dec. 9, 8:30 ET, ABC).
2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Tournament stats: 26.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 8.2 apg, 1.8 spg, 56.5 FG%
In a high-profile Knockout Rounds win over long-time rival Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, LeBron was the best player on the floor. That was especially true in a tightly fought fourth quarter, which saw James amass 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
There has been an efficient and timely ruthlessness from James in these Tournament games. The Lakers as a whole are shooting lights out because James is directing the entire operation. Then, when defenses adjust, the league’s all-time leading scorer takes over as well as he ever has.
James and the Lakers were even more dominant against New Orleans in their West Semifinals rout over New Orleans. James scored 30 points in fewer than 23 minutes.
Even more impressive, the Lakers’ lock-down defense is in lockstep with its precision offense in tournament play. It will need to stay that way to slow down the Indiana’s juggernaut of an offense in the championship game.
3. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Tournament stats: 29.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.0 apg, 53.7 FG%, 52.6 3FG%
Lillard is playing like a man furious that his last playoff game occurred in 2021. The In-Season Tournament has put his big-game chops back on national television, which broadcast Lillard coolly guiding Milwaukee to the Knockout Rounds and a Quarterfinals rout of New York.
Lillard punishes any delay or lapse in defensive attention and ability. He is a danger the second he crosses halfcourt. The seven-time All-Star is shooting a scalding 52.6% from 25 feet and beyond in Tournament play.
Veteran-laden Milwaukee, however fell to an emotional and hungry opponent in Indiana in the Semifinals. The Lillard-Haliburton matchup was must-see TV, though he and the Bucks wound up on the losing side..
4. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
Last week’s ranking: Honorable mention
Tournament stats: 27.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.2 apg, 51.0 FG%
New Orleans faced an uncertain fate after an early Group Play loss and a razor-thin win over Denver. Ingram helped navigate the Pelicans through it, ultimately clinching West Group B and a berth in the Knockout Rounds.
Ingram’s game rose with the stakes. The former All-Star put together a sparkling 30-point, eight-rebound, six-assist performance on 50% shooting in New Orleans’ emotionally charged win at Sacramento.
Now Ingram and the Pelicans will look ahead to continuing the regular season after losing to the Lakers in the West Semifinals.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Last week’s ranking: Unranked
Tournament stats: 27.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 6.6 apg, 2.0 spg, 63.6 FG%
With only four teams remaining at the time of publishing, spot No. 5 came down to “second options.” It was a close call between Antetokounmpo and the Lakers’ Anthony Davis. Antetokounmpo gets the narrow nod for his dramatically more efficient offense, which includes nearly doubling up Davis in free throw attempts (10.8 vs. 5.6 per game).
Antetokounmpo has been free to attack to that absurd degree. That’s what happens when Lillard is spreading the floor and Brook Lopez is blocking shots left and right (4.2 bpg).
The encouraging thing for Milwaukee is that Antetokounmpo hasn’t had to rely on transition for his points in Tournament play. He’s nowhere close to the league leaders in that category. Ditto for points on turnovers. As New York found out on Tuesday, Antetokounmpo is learning how to dominate in the half-court flow of his restructured team.
Honorable Mention
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: Reminded everyone in the Quarterfinals win over Phoenix of one thing: when he is engaged and involved, the Lakers’ ceiling goes up multiple levels.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans: He needs to cut down his turnovers and bump up his free-throw percentage, but Williamson has a ceiling few can match.
