Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the clear favorite to win MVP in a straw poll of 70 media members conducted by ESPN.

Antetokounmpo earned 60 of the 70 possible first place votes.

LeBron James ranked second in the poll, finishing either first or second on 68 of the 70 polls while finishing third on one and fourth on another.

Before the NBA season was suspended, ESPN began pushing a narrative that James had closed the gap on the MVP race on Antetokounmpo despite the overwhelming case for the reigning MVP. Several media members on ESPN supported James' case by citing specious factors such as the passing of Kobe Bryant, his response to the China controversy and also his age.

The most critical piece of business in the NBA this coming offseason will be whether Giannis Antetkounmpo signs a supermax contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. Many NBA teams are positioned to pursue  Antetkounmpo if he becomes available in free agency in 2021 and if he decides to commit his future to the Bucks in 2020, that may open those teams up to pursue other stars.

"One of the things when I talk to executives out there that they say is if Giannis extends with the Bucks this summer, which depending on who you talk to is either a slam dunk or a real question, the Bucks certainly feel like they have a great chance to extend him this summer," said Brian Windhorst on his podcast. "If he signs that supermax extension this summer and all of the teams that are sort of saving, you know, keeping their ammo dry for 2021 may begin to make action. They tell me this summer's star movement may be hinged on whether or not Giannis extends or not. If he extends, you'll all of a sudden see more action."

Giannis Antetokounmpo will sit out the remaining two games of the Milwaukee Bucks' road trip with a minor joint capsule sprain of his left knee.

Antetokounmpo suffered the injury on Friday night against the Lakers.

The Bucks play the Suns on Sunday and the Nuggets on Monday night. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo will have a precautionary MRI on his left knee, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful for the Bucks game against on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo tweaked his left knee in the second half of the Bucks' 113-103 loss to the Lakers, but stayed in the game.

Antetokounmpo was seen limping in the locker room after the game. 

Mike D'Antoni and Mike Budenholzer have been named the NBA's Coaches of the Month for February.

The Houston Rockets had a 9-2 record as they moved entirely to a small ball system with Russell Westbrook playing a bigger role.

The Milwaukee Bucks continued their dominant 19-20 with a 10-1 record.

Kristaps Porzingis and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 19.

Porzingis averaged 26.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.25 blocks per game as the Mavericks went 3-1.

Antetokounmpo averaged 28.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists as the Bucks went 4-0.