
<p>Inspiring tales of success abound in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-best-game-winning-buzzer-beaters-in-history-20230727-SPD-3842.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>, but the most fascinating ones occur when the unlikeliest of heroes do extraordinary feats. The title of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-all-time-top-4-sixth-man-in-history-20230720-SPD-3817.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Most Valuable Player (MVP)</a> in basketball is usually reserved for the sport’s greatest players, those who constantly raise the bar for their team’s play.</p>



<p>However, every once in a while, an underdog comes out of nowhere and surprises everyone by performing at a spectacular level. The underdog mentality is strong in the NBA, as seen by these players, all of whom have inspiring backstories.</p>



<p>Their unexpected MVP awards show the world how unpredictable sports can be and how much potential every player has. In this piece, we honor the three most surprising MVPs in NBA history.</p>



<h2>3. Giannis Antetokounmpo –  2019 and 2020, Milwaukee Bucks</h2>



<p>Giannis Antetokounmpo, originally from Athens, Greece, was picked by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013 with the 15th overall pick. Giannis, who had a tough upbringing in a poor neighborhood of Athens and began his basketball career by peddling timepieces, didn’t seem like he was destined for the NBA.</p>



<p>His stature, speed, and talent, together with his dogged work ethic, allowed him to develop into a star player in the league. He earned the MVP title for the first time in 2019, and his dominant play surprised both fans and observers. He won the award for the second year in a row, in 2020.</p>



<p>The rise of Giannis to NBA superstardom from modest origins is nothing short of remarkable. His hard work, persistence, and enormous skill led to an unexpected ascension to NBA MVP status.</p>



<h2>2. Allen Iverson – 2001, Philadelphia 76ers</h2>



<p>In a league where most players are over 6 feet tall, Allen Iverson never let his height limit his effect on the court. Iverson was a player who consistently confounded expectations with his speed, quickness, and ability to put points on the board.</p>



<p>Iverson led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2000–01 while averaging 31.1 points per game. Iverson’s exceptional play that year led to his being named the league’s most valuable player despite the fact that his team was not favored to win the championship. His ability to boost his team’s performance despite being one of the league’s tiniest players led to him being named MVP.</p>



<h2>1. Steve Nash –  2005 and 2006, Phoenix Suns</h2>



<p>Even though he was a talented point guard, few people expected him to achieve the heights he did while playing for the Phoenix Suns. Canadian-born South African Steve Nash was a competent player for the Dallas Mavericks, but he became a superstar after moving to the Phoenix Suns.</p>



<p>In 2005, Nash guided the Suns to 62 victories—the most in the NBA—after finishing with only 29 the year before. He was a game-changer thanks to his lethal shooting, precision passing, and basketball savvy.</p>



<p>In recognition of his exceptional talent and leadership on the court, he was named MVP, a feat he repeated the following year. His two consecutive MVP awards further cemented Nash’s position as one of the game’s all-time best point guards.</p>


NBA: Top 3 most unexpected MVPs of all time

NBA: Top 3 most unexpected MVPs of all time - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas


<p>Without <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-finest-current-players-who-have-never-won-defensive-player-of-the-year-20230424-SPD-3597.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a></strong>, the league would be in disarray. following the way the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-most-likely-destinations-for-dillon-brooks-20230508-SPD-3623.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milwaukee Bucks</a></strong> season ended, the whole NBA is keeping a close eye on his position following his recent cryptic remark about feeling disrespected.</p>



<p>Giannis has more than earned the right to be regarded as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and his status as such would make any deal involving him difficult. NBA players, though, always seem to get their way.</p>



<p>The Bucks may feel pressure to reduce costs due to their new ownership and the likelihood that they would exceed the luxury tax threshold if they re-sign Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. If that’s the case, then we should focus on these three groups.</p>



<h2>3. Memphis Grizzlies</h2>



<p>One should expect the Memphis Grizzlies’ trademark defensive tenacity and toughness from a team on the rise. However, they do not have another shutdown defender that can be relied on in the clutch.</p>



<p>The Grizzlies have a lot of draft picks and promising young players, and they are said to be going all out to get another superstar to play with Ja Morant.</p>



<h2>2. Miami Heat</h2>



<p>While the NBA trade deadline came and went, Pat Riley was unable to make a deal. There’s little chance of that happening again, and he may not even notice until he strengthens his team.</p>



<p>The Miami Heat advanced far in the playoffs this year despite the absence of anybody else who could be considered a franchise player save Jimmy Butler. Suppose what they might do with the game’s top two-way player on their side.</p>



<h2>1. New York Knicks</h2>



<p>Ever since Carmelo Anthony departed, the New York Knicks have been looking for another superstar to lead the club. It has been said that they have been monitoring Giannis for years and that they are now his preferred destination, according to speculations and rumors.</p>



<p>The Knicks have it all: the ideal sports town, the most money, the most draft selections, the most fans, and the most history. We’ve heard this tale before, but maybe they’ll really be able to pull it off this time.</p>


NBA: Top 3 most likely destinations for Giannis Antetokounmpo in case of Bucks exit

NBA: Top 3 most likely destinations for Giannis Antetokounmpo in case of Bucks exit - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p>There has been much debate regarding who should win the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-finest-current-players-who-have-never-won-defensive-player-of-the-year-20230424-SPD-3597.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA’s Most Valuable Player</a></strong> award. It’s arguable that Michael Jordan and <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-contenders-for-2022-23-nba-coach-of-the-year-20230409-SPD-3565.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a></strong> should have won at least 10 of them between them if the award were meant to go to the greatest player.</p>



<p>There is no universal agreement on what constitutes a “Most Valuable Player.” In addition, voters that rely on the media tend to be narrative-based, which might lead to emotional judgments rather than logical ones.</p>



<p>This year’s winner, Joel Embiid, deserved it. While he certainly did deserve it, some fans can’t help but feel that other deserving celebrities were overlooked. The information you need to know about them will be provided below.</p>



<h2>3. Jayson Tatum</h2>



<p>The Boston Celtics maintained the highest level of consistency during the NBA season. A slide caused them to fall behind the Milwaukee Bucks, but they were still considered the favorites to win the Eastern Conference.</p>



<p>Naturally, much of the credit for that goes to Jayson Tatum and his outstanding performance. The youthful forward shot 46.6% from the field and averaged 30.1 points, 8.8 boards, 4.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.2 three-pointers per game, all career highs.</p>



<h2>2. Giannis Antetokounmpo</h2>



<p>The Boston Celtics were the most consistent team in the NBA. Even though they had just fallen behind the Milwaukee Bucks due to a slump, they were still widely regarded as the best team in the Eastern Conference.</p>



<p>That’s mostly due to Jayson Tatum’s great performance, of course. The young forward’s 46.6% field goal percentage and career highs of 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.2 three-pointers per game were impressive.</p>



<h2>1. Nikola Jokic</h2>



<p>The MVP voting was mostly in Nikola Jokic’s favor this season. But it appears that the public as a whole has been unwilling to honor him for three years running, even though his previous accomplishments should have no bearing on his standing this year.</p>



<p>The Denver Nuggets dominated the Western Conference, and Nikola Jokic was the top player in the NBA by almost every advanced statistic. He shot an astounding 63.2% from the field while averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.</p>


Top 3 greatest 2023 NBA MVP Award snubs

Top 3 greatest 2023 NBA MVP Award snubs - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p>Among the highest honors a professional basketball player can get, <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/luka-doncic-and-potential-mvp-candidates-of-2022-23-nba-season-20221110-SPD-3142.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MVP honors</a></strong> from the National Basketball Association are among the most sought-after. Yet, only a select group of legends, <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-teams-in-2022-23-nba-season-so-far-20221210-SPD-3243.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nikola Jokic</a></strong> included, have accomplished this feat several times.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>On every given day, Jokic deserves to win, but the NBA is a story-driven competition, so he didn’t. Now, <em>NBA.com</em> have analyzed the three competitors for MVP this year who have a realistic chance of defeating him.</p>



<h2>3. Luka Doncic</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2>2. Giannis Antetokounmpo</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2>1. Joel Embiid</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>


Top 3 players that might challenge Nikola Jokic for 2023 NBA MVP award

Top 3 players that might challenge Nikola Jokic for 2023 NBA MVP award - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p>Some of the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/luka-doncic-and-potential-mvp-candidates-of-2022-23-nba-season-20221110-SPD-3142.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a></strong>‘s all-time greats have come from the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-steve-nash-reacts-to-being-fired-by-the-brooklyn-nets-20221101-SPD-3073.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forward position</a></strong>, which isn’t the most prestigious one. Tim Duncan, an all-time great, has five NBA championship rings, but Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, both greats who never won a title despite being instrumental in their teams’ success, are also considered among the league’s all-time greats.</p>



<p>Even current legends like Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett have changed the power forward position by distinguishing out as excellent perimeter players with a polished offensive game. The old-school players, like Dolph Schayes, preferred to score from the paint and were quite efficient at it.</p>



<p>It’s safe to say that the new NBA’s finest team will perform well in its early seasons. Especially now that their teams are being divided up into smaller, athletic groups, only a select few of them will be able to switch places.</p>



<h2>3. Karl-Anthony Towns</h2>



<p>The Timberwolves believed otherwise, as seen by their signing of Rudy Gobert to play with <strong>Karl-Anthony Towns</strong>, and you shouldn’t either. From a strategic perspective, it’s not completely insane. While Gobert is one of the finest rim defenders in the game, Towns is recognized for his outside shooting despite his stature.</p>



<h2>2. Zion Williamson</h2>



<p>With just 85 games under his belt,<strong> Zion</strong> <strong>Williamson</strong> is likely a top 10 player in the NBA right now when he is in form and not in discomfort, as per<em> NBA.com.</em> His 2020-21 season showed that, because of his talent, stature, and athleticism, he has the potential to impact the NBA in the same way as Shaq did. If the Saints play to their greatest potential this season, they will soar to the top of the Western Conference.</p>



<h2>1. Giannis Antetokounmpo</h2>



<p><strong>Giannis</strong> <strong>Antetokounmpo </strong>has led all power forwards for the last four or five years in a row, and he shows no signs of relinquishing that title. The 27-year-old had 10 games in 2021-22 in which he scored 40 or more points, including an explosion for 50 points against the Pacers on February 10 that was just two points short of his career best. </p>



<p>He finished third in the MVP voting after previously winning the title twice. On New Year’s Day, he recorded 35 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Pelicans, one of his four triple-doubles.</p>


Top 3 power forwards for 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 power forwards for 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p><strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/pistons-and-bojan-bogdanovic-agree-hefty-two-year-contract-extension-20221030-SPD-3067.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nikola Jokic</a></strong>, a top player for the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/4-potentital-coaching-candidates-to-replace-steve-nash-at-brooklyn-nets-20221105-SPD-3084.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a>,</strong> is one of the few players in NBA history to win the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-times-has-lebron-james-won-the-nba-mvp-award-151-20220502-SPD-151.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Most Valuable Player</a> </strong>title in consecutive seasons. Three-time winners are very rare, with only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird accomplishing the feat.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2>4. Donovan Mitchell</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<h2>3. Nikola Jokic</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<h2>2. Giannis Antetokounmpo</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<h2>1. Luka Doncic</h2>



<p>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.</p>


Luka Doncic and potential MVP candidates of 2022-23 NBA season

Luka Doncic and potential MVP candidates of 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p>The National Basketball Association have made the announcement that <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/which-is-the-most-valuable-nba-team-176-20220503-SPD-176.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a> </strong>center<strong> Nikola Jokic </strong>has earned his second straight <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-why-kobe-bryant-changed-jersey-number-from-no-8-to-no-24-231-20220503-SPD-231.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Most Valuable Player</a></strong> award. </p>



<p>Jokic prevailed over <strong>Philadelphia 76ers </strong>big <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-history-who-is-the-nbas-all-time-leading-scorer-165-20220502-SPD-165.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joel Embiid</a></strong> and<strong> Milwaukee Bucks </strong>star <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-attendance-history-what-is-the-highest-attended-game-of-all-time-141-20220502-SPD-141.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a>.</strong> The Serbian was awarded a total of 875 points and 65 first-place votes out of a possible 100. </p>



<p>Antetokounmpo came in second place with nine points and 595, while Embiid finished in second place with 26 points and 706. </p>



<h2>Nikola Jokic wins second MVP Award in row</h2>



<p>The 27-year-old Jokic is the 13th player in NBA history to win the Most Valuable Player title in consecutive seasons. <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-times-has-lebron-james-won-the-nba-mvp-award-151-20220502-SPD-151.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a></strong>, Steve Nash, <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-power-forwards-of-all-time-in-nba-259-20220503-SPD-259.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tim Duncan</a></strong>, and Magic Johnson are just some of the NBA legends that have been a part of this group. </p>



<p>The NBA MVP Award voting has never had a top three and four finishers from outside the United States before, with Jokic (Serbia), Embiid (Cameroon), and Antetokounmpo (Greece) making up the top three and Doncic (Slovenia) rounding out the top five, respectively.</p>


Giannis Antetokounmpo