The fifth spot was another tough choice. Jalen Brunson is the beating heart of a Knicks offense that has been a force this season and he could well be No. 5 on my board, but the defensive concerns and credit for that offense also going to Karl-Anthony Towns bumped Brunson down one spot in my book to sixth. By the end of the season, this may flip.

As the Thunder expand their win streak to 15 games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA MVP resume grows even larger.

Alexander's greatest weapons has become his opponent’s favorite tool. SGA, averaging 31.4 points after Sunday’s blowout win in Washington, was a fourth quarter away from maintaining his brief hold of the league’s scoring crown over Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.