The Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid are the front-runners for the NBA MVP award for the 2022–2023 season. Jokic is the favorite, but some contend that he is undeserving of winning the prize for a third year in a row.
Several observers feel that Jokic may not win the prize because of voter weariness. Jokic’s failure to make the NBA Finals in the previous two seasons may also have an impact on his chances of winning. It’s crucial to remember that the MVP award is determined by regular-season performance rather than post-season outcomes.
Embiid should be the favorite, according to ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick, especially given the Nuggets’ recent struggles despite Jokic’s strong play.
“I don’t want to hear anything about [Nikola] Jokic being a front-runner for the MVP right now the way [the Nuggets] has tailed off,” Smith said on “First Take” recently. “Joel Embiid has got to be right up there, if not number one.”
Stephen A Smith and Kendrick Perkins believes Joel Embiid should win MVP over Nikola Jokic pic.twitter.com/IaCkxPEOPb
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 13, 2023
The Nuggets have recently suffered setbacks, but they still easily lead the Western Conference with a 46-22 record. Jokic’s failure to win the MVP award won’t be due to just a few unfavorable games. The 76ers’ 45-22 record, which puts them third in the Eastern Conference, gives Embiid a good chance of winning the award, though.
During 54 games, Embiid has an outstanding average of 33.4 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Some contend that his reliability and leadership—especially in light of Denver’s recent struggles—are what separate him from Jokic.
The MVP discussion will be decided in large part over the final few weeks of the regular season. With the exception of a few notable exceptions, the majority of the candidates were able to win the election.
The MVP award is ultimately up for debate, and voters each have their own standards for selecting the winner. No matter who wins, whether it’s Jokic, Embiid, or another player, they will all have excelled during the regular season.
Race up the 2023 NBA MVP ladder
The two-time defending Kia MVP Nikola Jokic has expressed his displeasure with the nasty tone that the MVP conversation has recently taken. Jokic responded when asked if he was ignoring the heated national discussion surrounding the prize, which he obviously found objectionable.
The 28-year-old center for the Denver Nuggets mentioned some recent comments made by NBA analyst for ESPN Kendrick Perkins that he found fascinating and claimed that they were made just to make news.
Jokic continues to lead this week’s Kia Race to the MVP Ladder, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid are still in close contention for the prize. The Philadelphia 76ers’ recent successes have been mostly due to Embiid, who has averaged 36.8 points over their last four games. Antetokounmpo has played a key role in the Milwaukee Bucks’ resurgence, as they have won 19 of their last 20 games.
Any of the top three players is deserving of winning the MVP award as long as the race is still open. Michael Malone, Jokic’s coach, has defended him against claims that he padded his stats by saying that Jokic is a crucial component of the Nuggets’ offensive scheme and that when he plays well, they succeed.
There are only 30 days left in the regular season, the competition for the MVP award is heating up, and it remains to be seen who will come out on top.
