Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Headlines ESPN Analytics Midseason Honors
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ESPN Analytics released its annual midseason award tables on Jan. 21, relying on the proprietary “net points” model to measure individual impact through games played by Jan. 19. The metric allocates credit or blame for every shot, rebound, turnover, foul and free throw to the players involved, then converts the result to points added or lost per game.
MVP – Best Overall
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
+7.1 net points per game | +300 total
The Thunder guard contributes roughly seven points more than an average player to Oklahoma City’s margin each night. He also paces the league in offensive net points on drives (+50.6), layups (+71.5) and bank shots (+12.0) and sits third at the rim (+77.5).
Runners-up: Nikola Jokić, Nuggets (+6.7); Kawhi Leonard, Clippers (+4.3); Victor Wembanyama, Spurs (+4.2); Luka Dončić, Lakers (+4.1); Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers (+3.6)
Top rookie: Kon Knueppel, Hornets (+1.0)
Best Defender
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
+2.6 per game | +76 total
Despite missing 14 contests and averaging 28.7 minutes, Wembanyama leads the league in defensive net points, using his reach to shrink the floor for opponents.
Runners-up: Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder (+2.0); Jaylin Williams, Thunder (+1.5); Ajay Mitchell, Thunder (+1.5); Chet Holmgren, Thunder (+1.4); Alex Caruso, Thunder (+1.3)
Top rookie: Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors (+0.5)
Forcing Turnovers
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
+3.3 per game | +129 total
Maxey excels at picking pockets and provoking bad passes in Nick Nurse’s turnover-focused scheme.
Runners-up: Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers (+3.1); Dyson Daniels, Hawks (+3.1); Jalen Suggs, Magic (+3.0); Kawhi Leonard, Clippers (+2.9); Kevin Porter Jr., Bucks (+2.9)
Top rookie: VJ Edgecombe, 76ers (+2.6)
Three-Point Shooting
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
+2.5 per game | +99 total
Murray is hitting 45 percent of his off-dribble threes while attempting 6.6 per game, both career highs.
Runners-up: Sam Merrill, Cavaliers (+2.4); Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves (+2.1); Stephen Curry, Warriors (+2.0); Kon Knueppel, Hornets (+2.0); Tyrese Maxey, 76ers (+1.9)
Top rookie: Knueppel (+2.0)
Midrange Shooting
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
+0.9 per game | +38 total
The MVP frontrunner converts better than 50 percent of his midrange attempts, adding nearly one net point per night from that zone.
Runners-up: T.J. McConnell, Pacers (+0.7); Nikola Jokić, Nuggets (+0.5); Kevin Durant, Rockets (+0.4); Tobias Harris, Pistons (+0.4); Kawhi Leonard, Clippers (+0.3)
Top rookie: Walter Clayton Jr., Jazz (+0.2)
Transition Scoring
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
+1.8 per game | +55 total
Leonard is taking an extra shot in transition compared with prior seasons and converts more than 70 percent of those chances when threes are factored in.
Runners-up: Cade Cunningham, Pistons (+1.5); Tyrese Maxey, 76ers (+1.5); LeBron James, Lakers (+1.4); Jalen Johnson, Hawks (+1.3); Michael Porter Jr., Nets (+1.3)
Top rookie: Cooper Flagg, Mavericks (+0.8)
Putbacks
Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks
+1.4 per game | +28 total
Davis, limited to 20 games so far, continues to rank among the league’s most productive players on second-chance opportunities.
Runners-up: Ivica Zubac, Clippers (+0.9); Nikola Jokić, Nuggets (+0.9); Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (+0.8); Chet Holmgren, Thunder (+0.8); Jalen Brunson, Knicks (+0.7)
Top rookie: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets (+0.7)
Late-Clock Offense
Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns
+0.4 per game | +12 total
Allen has generated 29 points on 27 shots over the past two weeks when the shot clock dips below four seconds.
Runners-up: Miles McBride, Knicks (+0.4); Nikola Jokić, Nuggets (+0.4); Jamal Murray, Nuggets (+0.4); Kevin Durant, Rockets (+0.4); Max Christie, Mavericks (+0.3)
Top rookie: Caleb Love, Trail Blazers (+0.3)
Passing
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
+1.4 per game | +46 total
The two-time MVP again tops the passing table thanks to high-value shot creation and minimal bad-pass turnovers.
Runners-up: Cade Cunningham, Pistons (+1.2); Jalen Williams, Thunder (+1.0); LeBron James, Lakers (+1.0); Payton Pritchard, Celtics (+1.0); Dyson Daniels, Hawks (+0.9)
Top rookie: Cooper Flagg, Mavericks (+0.7)
Rebounding
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
+1.3 per game | +47.3 total
Matched against smaller guards, Thompson consistently outmuscles opponents on the glass, helping Houston post the league’s best team rebounding numbers.
Runners-up: Steven Adams, Rockets (+1.2); Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets (+0.9); Kevin Durant, Rockets (+0.9); Mitchell Robinson, Knicks (+0.9); Jusuf Nurkić, Jazz (+0.7)
Top rookie: Kon Knueppel, Hornets (+0.5)
Source: ESPN
