Nikola Jokic, a top player for the Denver Nuggets, is one of the few players in NBA history to win the Most Valuable Player title in consecutive seasons. Three-time winners are very rare, with only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird accomplishing the feat.

In the 2022-23 season, the Joker will have to defend his title against an army of young and old players who all have a shot at the MVP award. His main opponents will be Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and several others.

An interesting fact is that Joel Embiid, center for the Philadelphia 76ers and a contender for the award, topped the NBA in MVP voting throughout most of the previous season. The 2022-23 NBA season is more than 10 games in, so we will go right into the possible MVP rankings.

4. Donovan Mitchell

Mithcell only needed to begin exploring a different web in order to join the MVP discussion. Since being traded to the Cavaliers, Mitchell has emerged as the team leader and is averaging career highs in points, assists, and stocks (steals + blocks). Additionally, he has a remarkable 45% accuracy from long-range. This is a great beginning for him.

3. Nikola Jokic

Not only have the Nuggets found success recently, but the Joker has been on fire as of late, almost averaging a triple-double every game. However, now that Jamal Murray is back in the lineup and Michael Porter Jr. is playing with greater assurance, we have witnessed a decline in Jokic’s scoring stats. This is a major factor that keeps him from becoming a higher MVP candidate.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis has developed into an extremely versatile and potent all-around player, capable of starting at any position on the court. The two-time MVP spent the summer playing for Greece at EuroBasket and increased his workload steadily throughout the preseason. For the fourth consecutive season, Antetokounmpo averaged at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in 2021-22, making him the first player in NBA history to do so.

1. Luka Doncic

Doncic is the rookie who has the best chance of winning Most Valuable Player this season. The 23-year-old has an incredible amount of room to grow as a player, but the progress he has already made is impressive. Without Jalen Brunson in the backcourt, the legendary Slovenian has continued to score at a high rate and has even become a legitimate triple-double threat. When it comes to the race for the NBA MVP Trophy, it’s a no-brainer that Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, would be the top pick.