We gave you our top 10 rookies so far in the 2010-2011 NBA season a few days ago, and now it’s time to talk about the real deal – Our mid-season MVP rankings, the top 10 players in the NBA this season so far.

Number 10 – Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Stats: 21.3 Points, 15.6 Rebounds in 36.9 minutes per game.

From a fantasy stand point, this is THE best player in the league this season. The double double machine is on one of the worst teams in the league, hurting his MVP rankings position but Love’s achievements this season in the paint are extraordinary. Currently on a 29 double double streak and with three 30-10 games the last two weeks, Love’s season will go down in the statistical history books.

Number 9 – Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

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Stats: 23.5 Points, 7.3 Rebounds in 34.6 minutes a night.

Same ol’ same ol’ from the greatest European in the history of the league. A small decline in the numbers doesn’t change the fact that the Mavs rely on him badly, hence forth the 7 losses in the nine games he recently sat due to injury. Slightly less physical but still one of the toughest players to guard in the league, still shooting 40% from three point.

Number 8 – Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

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Stats: 21.9 Points, 13.1 Rebounds, 2.2 Blocks in 36.3 minutes a night.

He’ll probably lose the rebounding and blocking title he owned the last couple of seasons, but Howard is a better player in 2010-2011, especially offensively. Willing to take more responsibility and load and more aggressive on both ends of the court, also resulting in a technical here and there. It’s hard being a one-man front court, but Howard is doing one hell of a job.

Number 7 – Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

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Stats: 22.7 Points, 12.7 Rebounds, 3.4 Assists in 37.2 minutes a night.

41 Games into the season, the rookie of the year award is easily his.Griffin is the official new refreshment of the NBA and actually made the Clippers fashionable and dare we say, a better show to catch than the Lakers on some nights. If it wasn’t for that awful start to the season…

Number 6 – Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

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Stats: 25.1 Points, 6.5 Rebounds, 4.2 Assists in 36.6 minutes per game.

Is he the Alpha-Male of this Heat team? Probably not. His town or not, It’s hard to beat LeBron, but Wade is having a great season playing alongside his good friend and despite his injury problems is averaging over 27 points per game in January. Plays the finisher role to LeBron’s playmaker/linebacker role to perfection. When Bosh plays. When Bosh is out, the Heat aren’t nearly as scary and good defensively than with him.

Number 5 – Deron Williams, Utah, Jazz

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Stats: 22.1 Points, 9.5 Assists in 38 Minutes a night.

Best point guard in the league? My opinion on the matter changes about every day. It’s hard when there are that many good players filling the positing in the league right now. He was my pre-season number one, and if it wasn’t for some Chicago guy, He’d still be numero uno. Nonetheless, the job Williams had done in leading the flair-less Jazz to a 27-15 record, sharing the lead in the Northwest with the Thunder despite losing his number one go to guy and getting a less than equal replacement is remarkable earning many points in the MVP race in my opinion.

Number 4 – Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks

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Stats: 26.4 Points, 8.8 Rebouds, 2.3 Blocks in 37.2 Minutes a night.

It’s not just that Amare is playing the best basketball of his career, reuniting with D’Antoni. It’s not that there seems to be a fire and passion that we haven’t seen in him in quite a while. His defense is even better. Yes, Amare seems to be making an effort on D. Above everything else, he’s made New York basketball relevant again and immediately brought back all the bandwagon fans and celebs to the MSG, gladly taking part in the NBA commercials including the addictive ‘Number one reason‘.

Number 3 – Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

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Stats: 24.7 Points, 8 Assists, 4.7 Rebounds in 37.9 Minutes a night.

Right now, this is the best point guard in the league. Maybe I’ll change my mind in a couple of weeks, but Rose is the best in 2010-2011. There was a small doubt in my mind in the beginning of last season that Rose isn’t what I and Chicago fans hope he will be, but those fears were quickly forgotten. Rose has been improving constantly since and in an ever growing pace this season. Almost unstoppable when penetrating, much better defensively and finally, an outside shot (37.9% from three point). Now, with the promise of Noah and Boozer finally playing together very soon, how far can Rose lead the Bulls in the playoffs this year?

Number 2 – Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

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Stats: 28.2 Points, 6.2 Rebounds in 39.3 minutes a night.

Some thought Durant is the front runner for the MVP award this season. I wasn’t one of those, but in a season that the award can go to anyone, Durant is as much of a legitimate candidate as the others. Leading the NBA in scoring Durant deserves to be so high this chart because the Thunder are fantastic team, one of the strongest in the West and a dark horse runner for the conference title because of him and Westbrook, no one else. He may not be as ‘WOW’ like last year, but that’s because we’ve gotten used to how good he is so fast. And because of Blake Griffin.

Number 1 – LeBron James, Miami Heat

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Stats: 25.6 Points, 7.1 Rebounds, 7.2 Assists in 38 Minutes a night.

You thought LeBron was going to be a second fiddle in South Beach? Guess again. No longer popular and loved around, James is just fine with that. And sharing the load while playing more of a point-forward role on offense and free safety on defense? It took him time, but he’s fine with that as well. Having Bosh and Wade allows him to be this good, true, but James is the most talented player in the league and just tries to do whatever is necessary from him to get the W, en route to the much bigger goal down the road, a ring.