After winning the NBA MVP for the second straight year, Nikola Jokic will be vying for his third this 2022-23 season but it’ll be much easier said than done.
Because of voter fatigue and the ever-increasing level of competition around the Association, the Denver Nuggets star isn’t a top favourite by the NBA 2022 odds just like last year, but he still has a good chance since he has shown the capability to carry his team night in and night out.
Will we see a new guy win this upcoming season or will a familiar face take it home once more? Continue to read on below as SBOTOP examines the top contenders for the MVP award.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
The Greek Freak just keeps on improving year after year. In fact, he averaged more points (29.9) and assists (5.8) per game last season than he did during his second MVP in 2019-20, so he should finish at least in the Top 5 when it’s all said and done.
The Bucks superstar can do it all on both ends of the floor. He can score, pass, defend on the perimeter, protect the rim, and his outside shooting is the only thing that’s left to nitpick about.
Last season, he led Milwaukee to a 51-31 record in the Eastern Conference, but lost to the finals-bound Celtics in the second round.
Many would argue that if he had Khris Middleton by his side, he would’ve won his second consecutive NBA championship last season. Still, with him leading the way, the Bucks should vie for the title once more.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic had a slow start last season due to injuries and COVID-19. But after that, he went on a tear over the final three months of the season, averaging around 31 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game.
When Dallas traded away Kristaps Porzingis to the Wizards, Doncic took it upon himself to shoulder the offencive load and he eventually led his team to their first WCF appearance since their championship-winning year in 2011.
This summer, the Slovenian guard focused on improving his conditioning and he’s in much better shape than he’s ever been in before, which is bad news for the rest of the league.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia Sixers
For the second year in a row, Joel Embiid came up short of winning his first MVP award. The Sixers center was understandably disappointed with the result, especially since he was the league’s leading scorer at 30.6 points per game.
Not only is Embiid a force offencively but he is as well defencively since he was the only player in the Eastern Conference to have at least 70 steals and 90 blocks.
The biggest knock so far in Embiid’s career is his lack of an ECF appearance after losing to the Heat last term. If he stays healthy throughout the 2022-23 season, he and James Harden are going to wreak havoc across the Association.
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
After getting swept by the Celtics last season, the narrative has considerably changed around Kevin Durant. But now that his protracted trade saga is finally over, the 2014 MVP has a chance to redeem himself.
Durant averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game last season, and he remains the Nets’ best player. Injuries have slowed him down these past few years, though, and he’s no longer getting any younger.
At least on paper, the Nets are easily a top contender in the Eastern Conference. Kevin Durant and his co-star Kyrie Irving are more than capable of producing many NBA 2022 highlights next season because they’re extremely talented offencively.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
The 2021-22 season didn’t end with Jayson Tatum hoisting up the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but he should vie for more major awards for the foreseeable future. The Duke product posted healthy norms of 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in the regular season last year.
His Celtics fell short in the finals, losing to the Warriors in six games, but it showed a bright outlook for the team moving forward with Tatum leading the way.
Tatum was named First-Team All-NBA for the first time in his budding NBA career and he was also the recipient of the first-ever Larry Bird ECF MVP award. If Boston has plans to win the 2022-23 NBA title – which would be their first since 2008 – it will likely be on the back of an MVP-calibre campaign for Tatum.
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