The NBA MVP race is rarely a one-sided one. Throughout the season, multiple players build their case and, by the time the season ends, votes are split between different candidates.
This season, however, may be the closest we’ve seen in years.
In a recent article, The Athletic’s Zach Harper (who is a current voter) admitted that he doesn’t yet know where he stands, even with the end of the season coming in less than a month.
I’ll be honest that I don’t really know what to do with these three right now. Giannis Antetokounmpo is looking for his third MVP trophy. Nikola Jokic is looking to add his second straight MVP. All the while, the big, bad Joel Embiid is here to grab his first. It feels like a game of musical chairs or rock-paper-scissors. One night we have Embiid and Jokic battling it out in the same game in which both players had overwhelming and underwhelming stretches, only to have that debate thrown aside for another brilliant Giannis outing.
As of right now, I feel like I’m coin-flipping for the leader/frontrunner. Embiid has the narrative. Jokic has the impact numbers. Giannis has the success/production The fun part? Every team’s fan base is going to say it’s clearly their guy. I think ultimately Embiid is still the frontrunner for this, and the betting odds agree, with him sitting there at -140 for the award. Jokic is +130, and it’s a bigger drop-off with Giannis at +1000 in third place.
The three main candidates right now are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid.
In Milwaukee, Giannis is dominating the league again and has the Bucks 2nd in the East, just 2 games back from Miami.
For Nikola Jokic, his impact on the court is unprecedented, as advanced stats continue to show a historic level of play from him.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid is still the front-runner in a lot of people’s minds, and for good reason. He’s averaging nearly 30 points per game for a Sixers team that has been consistently competitive all season long (even amid the Ben Simmons saga).
These next few weeks will be crucial for the MVP race, as anything that happens from here on out could end making a difference in the final tally. We will see who among them rises to the occasion and finishes out strong.
