our top 10 best players of the month of December (+ MVP race update)

RMC Sport offers you its top 10 of the best NBA players over the past month, a ranking established thanks to the votes of the editorial’s basketball specialists. The opportunity to update the race for the regular season MVP title.

The methodology:

To determine the ranking of the 10 best players of NBA in December, 14 editorial specialists from RMC Sport, including the podcast team Basket Timehave each delivered their top 10 over the past month.

The criteria taken into account are individual performance combined with collective success. The scale was determined as follows: 15 points for a first place, 12 for a second, 9 for a third then 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 point(s).

>> Our top 10 best NBA players of the month of November

#10 Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 20
• Stats in December: 23.3 points, 12.2 assists, 1.3 steals
• Collective assessment in December: 9 wins – 4 losses

Best passer in the league, with more than two units ahead of his runner-up (Cade Cunningham), he is the leader of the young guard of the Atlanta Hawks, the pleasant surprise of this start of the season in the NBA (6th in the Eastern Conference ). A 31-point, 20-assist game in the victory for Zaccharie Risacher’s teammates against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 7.

#9 Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 21
• Stats in December: 24.8 points, 10.9 assists, 0.9 steals
• Collective assessment in December: 5 wins – 5 losses

Nearly 11 assists on average over the month of December in a franchise which seems (finally) to show signs of progress. For his fourth season in the league, the No. 1 in the 2021 draft posted his best career points average. Voted Eastern Player of the Week on December 23.

#8 Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 22
• Stats in December: 28.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists
• Collective assessment in December: 5 wins – 8 losses

Fourth best scorer in the league over the past month, including a 43-point match against the Pistons (defeat) on December 22. He is trying as best he can to keep the Suns ship afloat, currently 11th in the Western Conference.

#7 Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 31
• Stats in December: 24.4 points, 7.5 assists, 0.9 steals
• Collective assessment in December: 12 wins – 2 losses

In the wake of the leader, the New York Knicks have definitely launched their season, with a (ongoing) series of eight victories since December 16 and a solid third place in the Eastern Conference. Despite a few air gaps and a scoring shared with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, Brunson notably scored 55 points in the victory against the Washington Wizards on December 29 (136-132 after overtime).

#6 Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 32
• Stats in December: 28.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 8.1 assists
• Collective assessment in December: 9 wins – 5 losses

Still as complete and author of a triple-double in the victory against the Golden State Warriors on December 16 (45 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists). Before his calf injury, the Mavericks had a record of 9 wins and 2 losses over the past month. The Texan franchise remains on three consecutive losses and will have to fill the immense void left by the Slovenian, absent at least until the end of January.

#5 Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 81
• Stats in December: 27.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5 assists
• Collective assessment in December: 8 wins – 6 losses

The Celtics were less sovereign in December, but they remain clinging to second place in the Eastern Conference. Still without making noise, Tatum remains Boston’s offensive boss. Particularly active on the rebound, with 11.3 shots per game in the month of December (4th in the entire NBA).

#4 Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 100
• Stats in December: 28.5 points, 10 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 4.4 blocks
• Collective assessment in December: 6 wins – 7 losses

If there were still some doubts surrounding the Frenchman, they are now lifted. Sixth best scorer in the league in December, NBA, the Spurs interior, elected player of the week ten days ago, notably scored 42 points twice, on December 20 against Atlanta and on the big stage of Christmas Day against in New York. As a bonus, a 10-against (!) match against Portland on December 22 and a ninth place for the Spurs in the West.

#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 112
• Stats in December: 31.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.7 blocks
• Collective assessment in December: 9 wins – 5 losses

After a chaotic start to the season on a collective level, it allowed the Bucks, currently fifth in the Eastern Conference, to turn things around. Still as consistent, since he has no match below 26 points in December. Author of a triple-double to clinch the NBA Cup title against the Thunder (26 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists).

Episode 213: Is Giánnis Antetokoúnmpo the MVP of this start of the season?

#2 Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 162
• Stats in December: 32.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists
• Collective assessment in December: 8 wins – 6 losses

He continues to carry the Denver Nuggets, fifth in the West, on his broad shoulders. If he is no longer in a triple-double average, unlike in November, the Serbian notably scored 104 points in 24 hours on December 8 and 9 against the Wizards then against the Hawks. Colossal.

#1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

• Number of points on the RMC Sport scale: 186
• Stats in December: 32.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2.4 steals
• Collective assessment in December: 11 wins – 2 losses

Undisputed boss of the Thunder, leader of the Western Conference and candidate for the title. Since December 2, OKC has only lost one game, the NBA Cup final against the Bucks. Over the period, “SGA” is the best scorer in the NBA, with incredible cleanliness for his position (56.3% shooting success).

Episode 214: Are the Oklahoma City Thunder stronger than the Boston Celtics?

Also received points in December (in alphabetical order): LaMelo Ball, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, De’aAron Fox, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Tyler Herro, LeBron James, Jalen Johnson, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Ja Morant, Cam Thomas, Karl-Anthony Towns, Franz Wagner.

• The RMC Sport ranking of the race for the regular season MVP title

NB: this ranking is obtained by adding the monthly top 10

• 1. Nikola Jokic (357 points on the RMC Sport scale)
• 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (340)
• 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (231)
• 4. Jayson Tatum (199)
• 5. Anthony Davis (133)
• 6. Victor Wembanyama (117)
• 7. Donovan Mitchell (92)
• 8. Luka Doncic (78)
• 9. Lamelo Ball (51)
• 10. Franz Wagner (39)