Dec. 15 is an important date in the NBA. It’s the day a majority of offseason signings become available to trade, making it something of the start of the trade season between now and the February deadline. The anticipation for Christmas games starts to grow.

And most teams are at or past the quarter mark of their schedules. So now is as good a time as any to introduce Sports Illustrated’s MVP rankings. Every week we’ll rank our top five candidates for the award until we pick a winner at the end of the season. In this inaugural version, some familiar faces are at the top.

1. Joel Embiid

The reigning Kia MVP dropped a 41-point double-double (his eighth straight) Wednesday night in logging his ninth consecutive game with 30 points or more. Embiid scored 19 of those 41 points in the opening frame and didn’t even play in the fourth quarter.

In fact, Embiid hasn’t played in the fourth quarter in four games this season. Expect much of the same Friday with a home matchup on deck against the struggling Pistons.

The reigning MVP has followed up last year’s stellar campaign by increasing his averages in points (33.8), rebounds (11.5) and assists (6.4). The assist total is particularly impressive.

With James Harden gone, Embiid has taken on more of a playmaking responsibility and is thriving without a massive spike in turnovers. More impressive is all of this has happened after the roster was overhauled early in the season. And it’s led to the Sixers having the best net rating in the league.

We know Nikola Jokić is Embiid’s main competition for this award. How about this? Per Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers have a better offense with Embiid on the floor than the Nuggets do with Jokić so far this season.

2. Nikola Jokić

The two-time Kia MVP became the first player in NBA history to register at least 10 triple-doubles in seven consecutive seasons Thursday night with career triple-double No. 115. Jokic also logged his 35th career triple-double before the start of the fourth quarter.

Impressive. Concerning, however, is Denver’s 5-5 record this season when Jokic tallies a triple-double. The Nuggets owned a record of 27-2 in 2022-23 when that occurred.

The Joker has been as impactful as ever, even if his efficiency is down after a shocking two-game slump earlier this month. It’s really hard to separate Jokić and Embiid at this point. Their teams are very close in the standings. Both have been phenomenal.

Embiid’s had the Harden drama, while Jokić has had to deal with Jamal Murray’s hamstring injury. Right now, Embiid the slightest of edges because the 76ers have two fewer losses, and I think the expectations for Philly were nowhere near this high considering how its season started.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Forget a game ball. Go snatch another MVP. Antetokounmpo appears to be trending towards more hardware after blessing the home crowd Wednesday night with a record-setting gem in a 140-126 win over Indiana.

Antetokounmpo scored a franchise-record 64 points, while also setting Milwaukee records in free throws made (24) and field goal attempts (32). He racked up 26 of his 64 points in the fourth quarter in earning a two-day rest ahead of Saturday’s clash with Detroit.

There are two issues holding Giannis back from the very upper crust of this race, though. First, Damian Lillard has been the Bucks’ crunch-time No. 1, taking some of the “most valuable” part of the argument away from Antetokounmpo. In big moments, Lillard becomes Milwaukee’s most important offensive option. Secondly, the Bucks’ defense is still in the bottom third of the league, and that’s a side of the floor Giannis is expected to exert more dominance over.

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexander came up short in an epic battle between point guards Thursday night but reeled off 43 points and nine assists with three steals. It marked Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth 40-point outing of the season, and he’s also scored 30-plus points in 16 games.

Behind SGA, the Thunder cling to No. 3 in the West, having won four of their last six heading into Saturday’s road matchup against the Nuggets.

He’s the best player on a team nobody expected to be a contender this soon.

5. Luka Dončić

The new father showcased some Luka magic in logging his ninth-consecutive 30-point game with a 39-point, 13-assist performance Thursday night in a loss to Minnesota. Doncic is averaging 35.1 points, 10.7 assists and 8.3 rebounds over his last nine games.

But the setback to the Timberwolves broke a four-game win streak with Dallas prepping to hit the road for matchups Saturday and Monday at Portland and Denver.

He produces at an absurd level every single night, and the Mavs are on pace for only their second 50-win season in his career.