At the top is LeBron with 53 1st place votes, followed by Joel Embiid, Yokich, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Yannis.

Big Perk.

Back here with us, Max, where do you think Steph should rank right now in the M V P race?

I think he should be a notch higher than what he is.

I'd put him ahead of Yannis because steps outside shooting is so absurd that he's creating space for everyone is usual in a team we're going into the year, I said.

Should should, uh, really has below average shooting at every position.

There's no starter who even shoots average for their position.

Except for Steph is having guys hit shots that don't normally hit shots at that rate because, like what happened to Draymond early on in the in, the kind of explosion of the Splash Brothers with Steph and Clay Dre started hitting threes.

He just had so much time to do it.

So he's having that kind of ripple effect that makes up for the defense that Yannis can play at his size.

And also Yannis is offensive contributions.

But I wouldn't I I like the list that we have.

I would put Embiid one at this moment, LeBron to Yokich, K D and Co.

I a caller to my radio show yesterday.

Kendrick Perkins.

You were on Max Kellerman show on ESPN Radio 2 p.m. Eastern.

Yesterday.

Um, call on my radio show brought up CO I as an M V P.

And it's funny because he's kind of flown under the radar.

And I think what's happening with CO y and with Yannis is people are like, we saw what happened in the playoffs last year.

Stop right.

They want them to prove something that they can't yet prove in this season.

But if you look at Kawhi Leonard, whose team has 18 wins, they just one against Minnesota.

Like without Paul George, who plays defense.

Obviously, we all know Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging what about 27 points a game, but with six assists and five boards and two steals, and by the way, he doesn't shoot it like Steph because no one ever has.

But Kawai is almost a 50 40 90 guy.

He's over 50% from the field, over 40% from three.

He takes five a game and he's almost at 90% from the line.

So he's also an extremely efficient offensive player.

I would have Steph.

We have him six.

I'd have him.

Sorry.

ESPN have him seventh.

I'd have him six.

Well, you're wrong.

Max and I would have Steph Curry top five in the MVP conversation.

Matter of fact, I do have Steph Curry Top five in the M V P conversation.

I actually have him ranked fourth behind Big Yokich, Big and Beat and LeBron James.

And here's why when you look at Steph Curry right now and I said this before the season started, I thought Steph Curry was gonna have a M V P type season, but I didn't know he was gonna do it to this fashion.

If you look at his stats right now is one of his best seasons of his career.

It is compared to 2015.

They are identical.

He's averaging 30 points, 5.5 rebounds, almost six assists a game, and he's on the task shooting 50% from the field.

Now when I look at this Warriors team and I look at the personnel that they have no disrespect to Draymond Green because he's a starting his role.

I think Andre Andrew Wiggins have been playing phenomenal basketball, uh, solid basketball in his role as well.

But if you take stuff off this Golden State Warriors team, they would be the worst team in the league.

They would be in the lottery literally.

He's literally single handedly carrying this team, putting up monster numbers every single night.

He was 10 for 19 last night from the three.

I mean, he just went on attack completely, took over the game, got them back into the game in the third quarter to go ahead and blow it open and win the game.

So what?

I'm looking at what Steph is doing.

This is one of his best seasons of his career, and without him on this team, the Golden State Warriors would be the worst team in the league, are in the line in the lottery.

Well, I'm not gonna argue too strenuously against Steph is the top five m.

V.

P.

Candidate, cause I think you could make the argument let me tell you why I don't like I respect putting in the top five because of the impact he's having on a team that you're right would be a lottery team without him.

I don't like the whole guys teammates against them, whether you know if they're good.

So a lot of times in an M V P conversation, you say, Well, he's on a squad that's no good.

I'm gonna give him extra points.

It's not who I or LeBron or M beads fault that they're playing on good teams.

Let me tell you why I don't have him in the top five.

Here's my list, Embiid one.

At this moment, LeBron to Yokich, K D.

Kawai and and by the way, the dude right after Steph for me, is you honest and off those seven guys, they all have big defensive impact.

Big defensive impact.

That's half the game.

So they also have offensive impact.

Even if you wanna argue, Steph hasn't even greater offensive impact of the space he creates and how efficient he is, You could argue that, but these guys are in that conversation on that end of the floor and on the other end of the floor steps, not in the conversation with them.

Even Yokich, who doesn't have a reputation as a defender, has a defensive influence on the game because of his size and because he's worked on that side of his game.

So I I don't think Steph's offense is enough to offset the elite scorers and playmakers who also are elite defenders.

Embiid LeBron.

You know these guys are elite Kawai elite defenders.

Well, what?

Max, let me say this.

Let me say, Why give stuff a whole lot of credit?

Because although the M V P candidates, that's right now the front runners for M.

V.

P.

Steph is the only one that is not playing with a certified Robin.

He does.

He does not have another superstar alongside of him.

You look at LeBron James right now.

He has Anthony Davis.

You look at Kawai Leonard.

He has Paul.

George, You look at Yokich.

He has Jamal Murray.

You look at Joe L and B.

He has been Simmons.

Steph Curry.

Who does he have?

He's single handedly caring this Warriors team and doing it in great fashion.

I know it's a great point.

That's what he brought it up.

He is your right now.

It's a good point.

I didn't say a great point.

I said It's a good point, but I'll say this.

He has said he's done it to the tune of 14 wins.

Like of everyone we're talking about.

His team has won, at least on the list, so it's understandable because of the roster is dealing with.

And maybe if his team had a better won loss record than co wise team.

Given that Kawai is as a much better team than Steph, I would agree with you, but they don't All these other guys teams have won Mawr yes, because of the supporting cast.

So when you're trying to isolate the value off the player on a fence, I would say if it was just inoffensive conversation, Damn, you might even say Steph is number one on this list.

If it was just offense, but the other guys are right there with him.

But when you start talking defense perk, he's not with the other guys.