There were points during the 2022-2023 NBA regular season when certain players had a legitimate argument to win the MVP award. Players like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Giannis Antetokounmpo all once held the top spot in the Kia MVP Ladder. At one point, even LeBron James and Anthony Davis of Los Angeles cracked the top ten.
But the regular season is a marathon, not a spring. And with the season now in the rearview mirror, the race for the Michael Jordan MVP award is as tight as ever. The top two players after last week are Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the West-leading Denver Nuggets. Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in at number three despite having another strong regular season campaign.
Embiid Takes the Top Spot
After being number two in last week’s ranking, Joel Embiid took over the top spot with strong performances down the stretch. In their 103-101 victory over the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics, Embiid erupted for 52 points and finished with 13 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and shot 20 for 25 from the field (80%).
While the Sixers scuffled to the finish line with a 5-5 record in their last 10, they still clinched third place in the Eastern Conference with a 54-28 record. And that record is due in large part to Embiid’s MVP-calibre numbers.
For the season, the third pick in the 2014 NBA Draft averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 54.8% field goal shooting. Following their victory against the Celtics, Sixers Head Coach Doc Rivers declared that “The MVP race is over.”
However, many believe this year’s MVP race may be one of the tightest in history. On one hand, you have Joel Embiid who aims to become Philly’s first MVP since Allen Iverson. On the other, you have Jokic who is a walking triple-double machine and hoping to become only the 4th player in NBA history to win MVPs in 3 straight years.
The Joker’s Numbers Are No Joke
There’s one reason why the MVP race is far from over despite the bold pronouncement from Doc Rivers: Nikola Jokic.
For a large chunk of the season, Jokic’s name was a constant in the top two of the MVP race. And while the Nuggets have kept their two-time MVP out for several games due to a calf injury, Jokic already did more than enough to secure the top seed in the West.
Putting up averages of 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game, Jokic’s numbers have caused serious problems for opponents as he continues to do things that most centres can’t. Among those is running the offense like a point guard. He’s also shooting 38.3% from the three-point line and a blistering 63.2% field goal percentage. He also leads the league in triple-doubles (29).
Tight Race to the Finish
With both Jokic and Embiid in a virtual dead heat heading into the playoffs, the panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters will have their plates full as they make the decision on who will win one of the tightest MVP races the league has ever seen.
Whether it’s Embiid and his league-leading scoring prowess, or the Joker and his do-it-all numbers, it’s going to be a photo finish for the Michael Jordan MVP award.
-Iggy Gonzales
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