One of the most valuable achievements a player can win is the Most Valuable Player Award or the MVP award for short. Since only one player is chosen for this award, there is steep competition for being the MVP of your team all season. Not to mention, the NBA is a league full of superstar players that bring exceptional skills to the table every night. Of course, there are at least 5 players every season, at the minimum, who all probably deserve the MVP Award over the course of 82 games. The difference between an MVP award winner and the rest always comes down to fine margins, as seen this past season when Nikola Jokic beat out Joel Embiid due to the narrative of carrying a team devoid of any help.

Most times, the MVP award is given to the player who had the best stats, the best impact, the most value on a team, or simply being the most impactful player for the best team in the league. Individual statistics, team records, and narratives are the three major determining factors at the end of the year. Since the 1994-55 season, the MVP Award has been awarded to the best player over the regular season each and every year. Without these guys on their respective teams, the team would not be as successful as they did.

As the 2022-23 season nears, it is time to uncover the early favorites for the 2023 MVP award. While it is still far too early to give a deep insight as to how the top superstars in the league will show up as the 2022 NBA Finals was recently wrapped up, predictions will be made on player uptrends and what to expect throughout the year. There is a lot of excitement brewing for the new season, and without further ado, here are the 10 early favorites for the 2022-23 MVP award.

10. Stephen Curry

2021-22 Season Statistics: 25.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 25.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Out of respect for Stephen Curry’s excellent season in 2022, it is assumed that the point guard will be back to his superstar best next year. The best shooter in the league will always be in the MVP race because he has the numbers and popularity to make a difference in the rankings. Not to mention, he is the face of the Golden State Warriors franchise that just won the championship. The Warriors are not going anywhere next year, and Curry will be at the core of what they do as they look to add championship number five under head coach Steve Kerr.

Curry will likely post similar numbers to last year, although there could be a minor decline because it is expected that both Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson will have bigger roles in the offense. Andrew Wiggins is also becoming a more confident player, and that bodes well for the Warriors team, as a whole. If Curry leads his team in PPG and APG while guiding the Warriors to the best record in the West or the NBA, he could legitimately win his third MVP award. But it is expected that Steph will take it easy to start the year, and start kicking in doors as the playoffs loom because quite frankly, he deserves to do that. 

9. Devin Booker

2021-22 Season Statistics: 26.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 26.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Devin Booker is one of the top shooting guards in the world, make no mistake about it. The All-Star had a great year for the Phoenix Suns, posting 26.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 4.8 APG while carrying an offense for the majority of the year. As Chris Paul continues to age, Booker will need to start taking matters into his own hands a little more. Expect him to put up similar numbers next year, although there are a ton of doubters about Phoenix’s ability to contend going forward.

Booker is a great scorer but still looks raw as a leader and a winner. Paul will be 38 years old, and Deandre Ayton could be out the door very soon. With so much uncertainty going on, will Booker be able to navigate through potentially rough waters and guide the suns back to the best record in the West? If he does, that will boost his MVP chances, but it is expected that the shooting guard will be in the race without much of an argument by the end of the year.

8. Ja Morant

2021-22 Season Statistics: 27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 28.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Perhaps no player is must-see TV more than Ja Morant. The explosive point guard burst onto the scene during the 2022 season, posting ridiculous numbers and coming up with one highlight play after another. He won Most Improved Player after taking his averages from 19.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 7.4 APG to 27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 6.7 APG. Of course, Ja helped the Memphis Grizzlies become title contenders rather quickly. Next year, there will be more of the same from the superstar point guard and the talented young Grizzlies squad.

Expect Memphis to grab a top-4 seeding in the West, push for the Western Conference Finals, and also captivate fans with their play. Ja will be leading the way, as he posts better numbers across the board and continues his ascension to become one of the top-10 players in the world. He might be there already, but he needs to focus on his health because the worst availability is a lack of availability. The Grizzlies need him healthy, and quite frankly, NBA fans need him healthy too.

7. Jayson Tatum

2021-22 Season Statistics: 26.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 27.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Jayson Tatum suffered through the 2022 NBA Finals, and many feel that he was exposed as a superstar player and franchise cornerstone. That is a bit harsh because Jayson is still learning the ropes of superstardom and how to handle double teams. Instead of throwing the ball over constantly, Jayson will learn to anticipate the help coming at him and make the right plays. As a result, Tatum will be better next year on both ends of the floor.

Expect the Boston Celtics’ star to post his career-high in PPG, because his understanding of defenses and also his hunger to silence the critics will be at an all-time high. It will be interesting to see what the Celtics do next year because they might need some roster tweaks, but Tatum will be in the MVP race regardless. Expect the soon-to-be 25-year-old to continue his ascension to being a superstar next year.

6. Kawhi Leonard

2021-22 Season Statistics: DNP

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 27.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Kawhi Leonard missed the entire 2022 season, but he should be back next year with a vengeance. The Claw always takes his time rehabbing from injury, and always comes back better on the offensive end. Expect Leonard to compete on the floor at a superstar level without missing a beat, because that is what a robot does after all, right? Leonard will post his usual numbers and give the Clippers a fighting chance to grab a top-3 seed in the West with Paul George by his side.

When Leonard is at his apex, he is in the mix for both the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year award. He is that great of a talent, and Los Angeles knew that when they dedicated their future to the swingman. Hopefully, Kawhi can stay healthy and kick off a Clippers’ contending run because the league is better when there is more competition. Leonard is a top-10 player in the world when healthy, and it is expected that he will be close to his best in 2023.

5. Nikola Jokic

2021-22 Season Statistics: 27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 25.8 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Nikola Jokic capped off another terrific season by winning his second-straight MVP award in 2022. While there are pundits and fans who will dispute it, the facts remain that most of the voters felt the big Serbian had the numbers to back up his claim. After all, when is the last time we saw a center post these kinds of legendary numbers? We have never seen a center pass the ball like Nikola, which is why analytic-based voters are obsessed with the Nuggets’ franchise player.

However, there is one factor that could take away from Jokic’s MVP claim in 2023, the return of Jamal Murray. Sure, the point guard coming up will boost Denver up the Western Conference rankings, but it will take away from Nikola’s major MVP talking point which is his lack of help. Jokic will probably average less PPG and will have the help to grab a top-4 seed in the Western Conference as the big man looks to make the NBA Finals for the first time.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

2021-22 Season Statistics: 29.9 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.4 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 29.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.7 BPG

Two-time MVP and former NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo heard all the chatter about how he could not get the job done against a young Boston Celtics squad in the postseason. Losing Khris Middleton in the playoffs hurt the Bucks’ chances, but the Greek Freak probably does not feel too heartbroken about it. He knows he will be back, and he will post monster numbers once again next year. Expect the Bucks to hold a top-3 seeding in the East once again, assuming Middleton is fully healthy.

Giannis is the best two-way player in the game today, and by most measures, the single most dominant star in the NBA. Nobody brings the size, power, athleticism, and two-way play that Giannis brings every night, and he continues to get better. If Giannis can take his 3-point percentage from 29.3% last year to at least 33% in 2023, the league better watch out because an improved jump shot could see the player reach astronomical levels.

3. Kevin Durant

2021-22 Season Statistics: 29.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 30.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Nobody knows what will happen with the Kyrie Irving situation, and what the future holds for Kevin Durant. Either way, expect Durant to return with a vengeance next year. He always seems to bounce back after a disappointing season, whether that means playing for a new team or taking his game to another level. KD was sensational in 2022 by posting 29.9 PPG and 7.4 RPG on 51.8% shooting, and expect him to put up similar numbers by the end of the 2023 season.

If Durant stays with the Nets and Ben Simmons returns to full health, he can be expected to grab a top-2 seed in the East if all goes well. Durant is arguably a top-two player in the game as we speak and the most spectacular offensive force in the NBA. Expect KD to average at least 30 PPG, which would be only the third time in his career, and shoot his usual splits from the field no matter which team he plays for.

2. Joel Embiid

2021-22 Season Statistics: 30.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 29.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.7 BPG

Superstar Joel Embiid just missed out on the MVP award to Nikola Jokic, and he could be at risk of missing out again next year. Luka Doncic is primed for his MVP award by looking at his uptrend in stats and play, while Joel will likely struggle through the consistent factors holding him back in terms of physical health and the uncertain play of his teammates. Remember, James Harden will be one year older next year.

Nonetheless, finishing top-2 in the MVP race will only boost Embiid’s credibility to one day win the MVP award. The big man was certain he won it last year, and he made it clear that if he does not win it, it is due to bias for other players. While that can be disputed, there is no doubt there are a ton of media members and fans who believe that Joel deserved the MVP award in 2022. Expect the big man to put up similar numbers as last season, except he might take a step up on defense to try to win Defensive Player of the Year as well.

1. Luka Doncic

2021-22 Season Statistics: 28.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG

2022-23 Projected Statistics: 29.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Luka Doncic just keeps getting better, and his team's success is following suit. Finally, Luka got out of the first round of the playoffs and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks did not have enough to defeat the vastly more experienced and talented Golden State Warriors, and they fell in 5 games rather convincingly. But still, taking care of business against the Phoenix Suns in the second round will give Luka the confidence he needs to take that next step.

Known as “Baby Bird”, Luka will put up his usual triple-double numbers and carry the Mavericks to a top-3 seeding in the West next year. Thanks to the team’s acquisition of Christian Wood, the Mavericks have given Luka the help he needs to carry the team to a better record than last year. Doncic has more experience under his belt, and he will start staking his claim as the face of the NBA by the end of next season.

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