While he might slip a little next week after a few recent performances failed to inspire the same sort of awe his 39-point explosion against the Brooklyn Nets last week, Boston Celtics All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker currently sits at No. 3 on the NBA’s Kia MVP Ladder.
It might surprise that the UConn product is so high on the MVP list despite the fact he might not even be the best player on his team (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have both improved this season, and Gordon Hayward was making a similar case before injury earlier in the month).
But, the Bronx native’s bounce-back from his own injury likely played at least a small role in his jump from sixth the week prior.
Currently behind only the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James in first and second place respectively, Walker is ranked above players currently making big waves around the league such as the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (fourth) and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden (fifth).
At least some of such a lofty estimation is likely based in just how much better the former Charlotte Hornet’s new team is playing.
However, his quick recovery after a scary injury just two games earlier and blistering offense against the Nets, as NBA.com’s Sekou Smith puts it, helped “remind everyone why the Celtics are happy with the man who replaced [Kyrie Irving]”.
It seems like the former Husky will have stiff competition from his neighbors on the MVP Ladder over the course of a still-lengthy season ahead.
Even still, Boston fans should relish their swift return not only to having an elite floor general on their roster, but also being mentioned unironically as a fringe title contender.
