Franz Wagner has shouldered the load for the Magic, who enter the Knockout Rounds as the East Wild Card.
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The Emirates NBA Cup is in full swing with new jerseys and courts joining the early-season stakes. The event culminates in a race for the NBA Cup and the competition’s Most Valuable Player award.
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, 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. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Tournament stats: 30.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.3 apg, 2.5 spg
Last Ladder: No. 3
Wagner takes the top spot for reasons that skew heavily in a four-game Group Play sample size: he’s played in every game and his production is right up there with the competition. That’s enough — for now — to overlook Orlando’s lone loss and Wild Card status.
Wagner has been amazingly consistent throughout, a fact made even more impressive given the continued absence of All-Star teammate Paolo Banchero. Teams know he’s Option A, B and C every night, yet Wagner scored at least 29 points in each Group Play game. Aside from raw numbers, his efficiency and usage are almost identical to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s. But he’s been forced to assume this role under duress with far less offensive help around him.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Tournament stats: 30.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 7 apg, 2 spg
Last Ladder: Not ranked
An early Group Play loss sunk SGA’s standing in the first ladder. Two wins and a West Group B crown later, he and the Thunder are back in contention. Like Wagner, Gilgeous-Alexander also played in all four Group Play games, giving him an edge over stars with better records and numbers.
Even with his free throw attempts down in Cup games, Gilgeous-Alexander is feasting in the paint. He led Group Play with 85 total drives and he’s shooting 75% in the restricted area. He also led Group Play with 22 second-chance points. If the Thunder get an extra possession — OKC was fourth-best in offensive rebounding — SGA’s been their guy.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo & Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
Tournament stats:
Antetokounmpo: 29.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 8.7 apg, 2 bpg, 75 FG% (Last Ladder: No. 1)
Lillard: 29.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 10 apg (Last Ladder: Not ranked)
There had to be some kind of penalty for Antetokounmpo and Lillard each missing one of the four Group Play games. It’s hard to drop them any further than this, however, when both they and the Bucks have been dominant to this degree. Milwaukee enters the Knockout Rounds as the East’s undefeated top seed with the best point differential by far (plus-50), led by its star duo’s absurd production.
The 75% overall shooting mentioned above for Giannis is not a typo. His worst shooting game of Group Play was a 14-for-21 showing against the Pacers. He missed one of his 11 attempts in Tuesday’s East Group B clincher, and five of his makes came outside the paint.
Lillard has been stellar in his own right, striking pick-and-roll brilliance with Giannis and unlocking everything that is Dame Time. His 37-point, 12-assist masterpiece against Miami came without Antetokounmpo and ensured Milwaukee had breathing room to finish out Group Play. He is shooting 50% or better on pullups and stepbacks alike, and most of those are from beyond the arc.
4. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Tournament stats: 26.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.5 apg
Last Ladder: Honorable mention
The only other undefeated team in Group Play deserves a candidate. OG Anunoby’s modest last two games opened the door for Brunson, who pairs his numbers with far higher usage (31.3%) than his teammates.
Brunson was elite down the stretch of New York’s one-point win over Charlotte, scoring 11 points over the final five minutes without committing a turnover. He’s the definition of a three-level scorer, taking 18 shot attempts in the restricted area, 29 outside the paint or in midrange, and 21 attempts beyond the arc in Group Play.
5. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
Tournament stats: 31.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 5 apg, 3.3 spg
Last Ladder: Not ranked
Like the Bucks stars, Dončić missed a Group Play matchup. Dallas won that game but lost to Golden State with him. Such are the margins within rankings and teams across a mere quartet of games.
Dončić, however, launched himself into the conversation with his Cup-saving performance in the Group Play finale. His 37 points, 12 rebounds and four steals fueled the Mavs’ dramatic comeback win over Memphis that secured the West Wild Card spot for Dallas.
Honorable Mention
• Dillon Brooks, Houston Rockets
Tournament stats: 18.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 63 3FG%
• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Tournament stats: 23.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 8 apg
• Josh Hart, New York Knicks
Tournament stats: 13 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 8.5 apg
• Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Tournament stats: 20.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 7.3 apg
• Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
Tournament stats: 19 ppg, 9 rpg, 7.5 apg
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Matt Petersen is an interactive producer for NBA.com.
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