1. LeBron James, Cavs	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		52	38.7	.504	.363	.778	1.6	1.0	7.1	8.2	29.8	31.6
	It is officially a one-man race. No one leaves his fingerprints all over his team's games more than LeBron, who just lit up the Knicks for 47 points, 8 boards, 8 dimes and 5 thefts. (Last week: 1 | Team record: 41-11)

	2. Kobe Bryant, Lakers	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		51	38.6	.461	.327	.814	1.7	0.3	5.3	4.6	28.0	23.1
	His streak of 235 consecutive games played came to a halt when he sat out back-to-back games with a sore left ankle. He's hoping to return on Wednesday against the Jazz. (Last week: 2 | Team record: 40-13)

	3. Kevin Durant, Thunder	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		50	39.9	.485	.376	.881	1.4	0.9	7.3	3.0	29.7	25.2
	After the Kobe-less Lakers beat the Spurs, I thought about moving KD ahead of Kobe and watching my inbox get flooded from Lakers Nation. He'll have to settle for No. 3. (Last week: 5 | Team record: 29-21)

	4. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		50	37.8	.479	.367	.895	0.9	1.1	7.8	2.4	24.8	22.8
	Dirk, who will play in front of his hometown crowd at the All-Star Game, has played well offensively. But if Dallas wants to be a legit contender, he needs to get it done on D. (Last week: 3 | Team record: 32-19)

	5. Steve Nash, Suns	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		52	33.7	.522	.438	.939	0.5	0.2	3.3	11.1	18.4	23.5
	The Suns are streaking thanks to the game's best playmaker. Phoenix has won five straight, including four in a row on the road. Nash has five straight double-doubles. (Last week: 6 | Team record: 31-21)

	6. C. Anthony, Nuggets	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		38	37.9	.464	.361	.861	1.3	0.4	6.5	3.3	29.7	24.6
	Any chance Melo had of being a top-three MVP candidate has evaporated due to the fact he has missed 13 of the Nuggets' past 19 games because of injuries. (Last week: 4 | Team record: 34-17)

	7. Joe Johnson, Hawks	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		49	37.9	.462	.369	.844	1.1	0.0	4.7	4.7	21.9	19.9
	In an another example of providing the team with what it needs, he has been scoring more, averaging 27 ppg in Atlanta's past five games. Here are 36 things to love about JJ. (Last week: 7 | Team record: 32-17)

	8. Dwight Howard, Magic	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		52	35.3	.598	.000	.600	1.1	2.8	13.4	1.6	17.9	23.1
	Although I didn't care for his Super Bowl commercial with LeBron because the dunks looked way too fake, there's no denying he's playing his best ball right now. (Last week: 9 | Team record: 35-17)

	9. Chris Bosh, Raptors	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		51	36.1	.525	.400	.787	0.6	1.1	11.4	2.3	24.4	26.4
	He's posting career-highs in scoring, rebounding, 3-point shooting and field goal percentage for Toronto, which has won seven of its past eight games. (Last week: 10 | Team record: 28-23)

	10. Deron Williams, Jazz	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		44	37.2	.488	.375	.782	1.1	0.3	4.0	9.7	18.9	20.6
	Utah is the hottest team in the West, winners of eight in a row and 12 of 13. D-Will, who will be playing in his first All-Star Game, is the engine that makes the car go in Utah. (Last week: NR | Team record: 31-18)

Awards Watch past: Nov. 17 | 24 | Dec. 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29 | Jan. 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 | Feb. 2

Smith

1. Josh Smith, Hawks: Said Hawks coach Mike Woodson: "Josh has probably been our MVP. I just wish he would've made that All-Star team because he has played like an All-Star this year for us." Smith had a triple-double of 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists Friday against the Bulls. (Last week: 3)

2. Joakim Noah, Bulls: His career season is on hiatus until after the All-Star break as he deals with plantar fasciitis. (Last week: 1)

3. Carl Landry, Rockets: Against the Sixers on Saturday, he was constantly double-teamed in an effort to keep the ball out of his hands. Yes, he has been that good in the fourth quarter of games this season. (Last week: 2)

4. Marc Gasol, Grizzlies: He's averaging career highs in points (15.0), rebounds (9.6), assists (2.3), blocks (1.6), steals (1.1) and field goal percentage (59 percent). (Last week: 5)

5. (tie) Corey Brewer, Wolves and Andrea Bargnani, Raptors: Brewer's ever-improving jumper and confidence in attacking the rim were on display during his 15-point third quarter Saturday against the Grizzlies.

Bargnani has been getting props for his improved offensive play, but it is his post defense and shot-blocking that have stood out the most. (Last week: 4 and NR)

Howard

1. Dwight Howard, Magic: He leads the league in double-doubles (40), rebounds per game (13.4) and blocked shots per game (2.75). (Last week: 1)

2. Gerald Wallace, Bobcats: He has emerged as one of the league's best on-the-ball defenders, and his energy is the key to what Charlotte does on the defensive side of the floor. (Last week: 2)

3. Josh Smith, Hawks: The 6-9 forward is the youngest player in league history to reach 1,000 blocked shots. (Last week: 3)

4. Anderson Varejao, Cavs: Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown: "If he doesn't get on the first-team all-defense this year or get votes for Defensive Player of the Year, I'm going to be floored." (Last week: 4)

5. Ron Artest, Lakers: Ron-Ron is one of the few players in the league who can effectively guard four positions. He is the biggest reason the Lakers are better in points allowed, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage against. (Last week: 5)

Brooks

2. Nate McMillan, Blazers: Has any coach had to overcome more than McMillan with the injury-riddled Blazers? Despite having to mix and match lineups from game to game, Portland continues to stack victories. (Last week: 2)

3. Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies: Memphis, the biggest surprise team in the league this season, is currently on a three-game slide. (Last week: 1)

4. Larry Brown, Bobcats: He has his team playing as well as anyone defensively and gets just enough offense -- led by Stephen Jackson -- to have Charlotte in the middle of the East playoff race. (Last week: 3)

5. (tie) Mike Woodson, Hawks and Rick Adelman, Rockets: The Hawks have shown they can play with the big boys, dominating the Celtics (four-game sweep), and are still within breathing distance of the Magic for first place in the Southeast Division.

Adelman deserves credit for getting the undermanned Rockets to play to their full potential. (Last week: 5 and NR)