As we hit the mid way point of the NBA season, the stars are really separating themselves from the rest of the field. It will be a three way race for the Kia MVP award.

The front-runner for the award is Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is leading the league in scoring and is the leader of the best recorded team in the West.  The Canadian has been a reliable two-way player for the Thunder all year with 31.4 points per game and also averages 6.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks and shoots 52.8% from the field. He’s the key factor on a team that ranks No. 1 offensively and No. 6 defensively.

Right behind Gilgeos-Alexander in the MVP race is Denver center Nikola Jokic. He has won three of the last four awards and is looking to claim his fourth win this year. He is leading the Nuggets to the fourth seed in the West this year while nearly averaging a triple double. His 30.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists while shooting 55.5% from the field with a near two steals per game has been good enough to carry the Nuggets to 24 wins this year so far. He plays a very valuable role on the team because Denver’s offense goes from the best offense in the league to the worst with him on the floor giving him a valid case to win his fourth MVP award.

Following these two is a two-time MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. His impressive 31.3 points and 11.3 rebounds along with his 6 assists. He has led the Bucks to 22 wins and the fourth seed in the East. He has carried the bucks through this season. He’s shooting over 60% from the field this year and has been reliable in the clutch.

These three candidates all have the best odds of winning the MVP and will be a close race until the end of the season. If it is one of these players it will we the seventh consecutive Foreign MVP winner.