Among the highest honors a professional basketball player can get, MVP honors from the National Basketball Association are among the most sought-after. Yet, only a select group of legends, Nikola Jokic included, have accomplished this feat several times.
According to all indications, the 28-year-old Serbian will win the prize for the third year in a row. However, there are many who argue he shouldn’t be the clear frontrunner since other players have higher statistics.
On every given day, Jokic deserves to win, but the NBA is a story-driven competition, so he didn’t. Now, NBA.com have analyzed the three competitors for MVP this year who have a realistic chance of defeating him.
3. Luka Doncic
During the course of his NBA career, Luka Doncic has made defenders look foolish, and he seems to be improving rather than declining. In any other year, his stats would be MVP caliber.
Doncic’s MVP prospects may be hurting since he couldn’t get the Dallas Mavericks into the playoffs. He may not be successful since his squad isn’t very strong.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
One might be forgiven for thinking that we’ve become complacent with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Don’t misunderstand me, however; the things the Greek Freak has been up to for years aren’t typical and may never be repeated.
With the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis is the team leader in almost every statistical category, and he is also one of the finest defenders in the NBA and an unstoppable attacking force inside the paint.
1. Joel Embiid
Too many seasons have passed with Joel Embiid being the league’s second-best player but without him winning the award. As a result of sharing the court with Jokic throughout his peak, he has been unable to win the honor.
Health has been the greatest question mark for Embiid about MVP voting, but as long as he is playing, the Philadelphia 76ers will be contenders. He hasn’t missed much court time this year, leading some to argue that he should win the MVP.
