Contrary to popular belief, the 2022-2023 NBA MVP race is getting more challenging as we get closer to the end of the regular season. As we all know, it all boils down to three candidates: Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. Who is more likely to take the prize home? Surprisingly, it is much closer than we thought.
Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The two-time NBA MVP is leading the best-performing team in the league right now: the Milwaukee Bucks. With a record of 53-21, the Greek Freak is averaging 31.1 Points, 11.7 Rebounds, and 5.6 Assists per game, resembling his previous MVP seasons. Furthermore, he is averaging 0.97 Points Per MINUTE, putting his season in 4th place in NBA HISTORY in that category, being one of the most productive players of all time. He is also one of the most impactful players in the current NBA, and arguably the most effective one this season as a two-way player. As impressive as his season is, the media and fans seem to take this performance for granted, completely ignoring this consistency from Antetokounmpo, leaving him out of the race. With 59 games played so far this season, the Bucks have a record of 9-6 when Giannis does not play.
Nikola Jokic.
The current NBA MVP could become the fourth player to win three Most Valuable Player awards in a row in LEAGUE HISTORY, an accolade only achieved by Bill Rusell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird. On top of that, averaging 24.9 Points, 11.8 Rebounds, and 9.9 Assists per game, Jokic could also become the THIRD player in NBA history to average a triple-double in a regular season, an impressive achievement that only Oscar Robertson and a prime Russell Westbrook (x4) have managed to get. Additionally, the 29-year-old center has been the most efficient player in the league, with a True Shooting percentage of 70.4 and a Player Efficiency Rating of 31.8 this year. However, his contributions at this stage of the season have not been able to help his team win, as the Denver Nuggets have a record of 5-5 in their last 10 Games.
Joel Embiid.
Arguably the player with the best momentum in the NBA, Joel Embiid has a strong case to win the MVP as well. With 33.3 Points, 10.2 Rebounds, and 4.2 Assists per game, he is having the best season of his CAREER. Having expressed his interest in winning the MVP this season, he has clearly had a motivation boost after the All-Star Break. The 76ers have improved as a team across the board due to Embiid’s performances, becoming the most dominant player in the paint on both ends of the court, which separates him from any other player in the league. Additionally, he is also putting up 0.96 Points PER MINUTE while on a .653 True Shooting Percentage, an unprecedented statistic. If anything, injuries can be the only setback for his historic season.
PREDICTION:
MVP: JOEL EMBIID. 2ND: NIKOLA JOKIC. 3RD: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO.
Although Joel Embiid is the current favorite to win the MVP, all of these three players are equally deserving of the award, each having strong arguments for taking the prize home. Nevertheless, many external factors may come into play when selecting the winner, such as voter fatigue, unnecessary media agenda, or inconsistent criteria when comparing them. Above all, we are grateful to witness this one-of-a-kind performance from Jokic, Giannis, and Embiid this season.
Text Sources: nba.com, basketball-reference.com, statmuse.com
