The Ringer NBA Show The Dark-Horse MVP Race, Mathurin’s Moment, and More Takeaways About Actual Basketball | Group Chat
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Feb 24, 2026 A lively dive into the MVP race and how the 65-game threshold and injuries could reshuffle voting. They debate alternate candidates and whether teams should risk players for awards. Early post–All-Star takeaways include Bennedict Mathurin’s instant scoring fit with the Clippers and Cam Thomas’s sudden bench resurgence for the Bucks.
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MVPs Must Be Floor Raisers Not Just Scorers
- MVP value often hinges on being a 'floor raiser' through offense creation or defensive warping rather than raw scoring alone.
- Rob stresses playmaking (Cade) and defensive anchors (Wemby) serve different but comparable MVP archetypes.
Luka's Production Cuts Two Ways
- Luka Doncic's massive counting stats still make him an MVP-level performer, but his on-court complaints and defensive lapses create a 'punted possessions' counterargument.
- Justin suggests emotional habits reduce teammate effectiveness despite elite production.
Kawhi's Hot Streak Isn't A Clean MVP Case
- Kawhi Leonard's second-half surge complicates late MVP talk but Clippers' middling team record weakens his case.
- Rob warns voters may balk at awarding MVP to a player on a lower-ranked team despite dominant stretches.