The NBA season will be over in just a few weeks and the NBA MVP race is still as tight as ever. While Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid just leads the race, there is a case for each player to win the award. These are their cases.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is the current favorite to win the MVP and for good reason. Embiid has been the most dominant individually player in the NBA this season. Embiid has put up 33.3 ppg (leading the NBA), 10.2 rpg, and 4.2 apg.
Not only has Embiid been the best player on offense in the NBA, but he has been an All-NBA candidate on defense. Embiid can do it all and he has lead the Sixers to a top three seed in the Eastern Conference.
Embiid’s eye test says that he has been the best player in basketball this season, but the one stat that tells the story of his value is his on/off score of 10.2, leading the NBA. When Embiid is on the floor, he is a dominant big man that controls the game for the Sixers, and when he is off, the team struggles.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic Has won two consecutive MVPs, and is making a terrific case to win a three-peat, which is only been done three times ever in NBA history, previously won by Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird.
Jokic has been constantly praised as the man that should win the MVP this season by the analytical NBA audience, citing things like his RAPTOR scores, but even fans that do not care about the details of advance stats can tell how great Jokic has been.
The Nuggets Center is the leader on the best team in the Western Conference and 24.9 ppg, 11.9 rpg, and 9.9 apg. Jokic is on the verge of averaging a triple double while having one of the best teams in all of the NBA, it is hard to argue he doesn’t deserve to be honored with the MVP.
Jokic is one of the best passers in the league and consistently dominates for the Nuggets. There is no question that Jokic is one of the best players in basketball and is incredibly deserving of the MVP.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the least favorite of the three to win the MVP, however, there is a great argument that he is currently the best player in the world, on the best team in the Eastern Conference, which should give him a clear reasoning to win most valuable player.
Antetokounmpo has been his consistent self all year, averaging 31.1 ppg, 11.7 rpg, and 5.6 apg. The only reason why Antetokounmpo isn’t higher on voters list is that he is a victim of his own greatness. Antetokounmpo playing at this level is expected at this point.
