The Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid was named the NBA’s 2022-23 MVP for his brilliant season.
Winning the MVP award is a dream come true for every player in the NBA. But with that honor comes a lot of expectations. Surprisingly, five out of the last seven MVPs haven’t won an NBA Championship so far in their careers.
The last seven MVPs of the league were: Russell Westbrook (2017), James Harden (2018), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019, 2020), Nikola Jokic (2021, 2022), and Joel Embiid (2023).
Out of them, only Giannis Antetokounmpo has fulfilled his dream of winning the NBA title in 2021. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to a championship after a drought of 50 years.
With that being said, let’s see how each MVP performed in the playoffs during that respective season.
2022-23 NBA MVP – Joel Embiid – Second Round (Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics 2-2)
2021-22 NBA MVP – Nikola Jokic – First Round (Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors 1-4)
2020-21 NBA MVP – Nikola Jokic – Second Round (Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns 0-4)
2017-18 NBA MVP – James Harden – Western Conference Finals (Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors 3-4)
2016-17 NBA MVP – Russell Westbrook – First Round (Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets 1-4)
James Harden got closest to reaching the NBA Finals during his MVP season. Now, Joel Embiid has the chance to match it by kicking the Celtics out of the postseason.
Can An MVP From The Past Seven Years Win The 2023 NBA Championship?
There is no doubt about the talent of each ringless MVP from the past seven years. But winning an NBA Championship will certainly be a massive boost for their legacy in the league.
Keeping that in mind, let’s see where each MVP’s team is in the 2023 NBA playoffs and if they have a chance at winning the title.
2022-23 MVP – Joel Embiid – Second Round (Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics 2-2)
2020-21, 2021-22 MVP – Nikola Jokic – Second Round (Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns 2-2)
2017-18 MVP – James Harden – Second Round (Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics 2-2)
2016-17 MVP – Russell Westbrook – First Round (Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns 1-4)
Technically speaking, Russell Westbrook still has a chance of getting a ring if the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2023 NBA Championship. Russ certainly wants it, but whether he gets it or not would be up to the Lakers.
Joel Embiid and James Harden arguably have the best shot at winning a ring, as they are playing together as teammates and have the potential to eliminate the Celtics.
Lastly, Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets initially held a 2-0 lead over the Suns, but the Kevin Durant-led team has made a comeback in the series and tied it at 2-2. Moreover, the Suns are loaded with talented players, and it will only make it more difficult for Jokic’s chances of finally winning a championship.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
