
<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

miniaturas


<p id="block-8494f6ae-d4fe-4e4a-8456-e05c9bee4033">The <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-small-forwards-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221202-SPD-3219.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a></strong> is teeming with youthful talent, and even the youngest players can have an instant impact on a championship team. Some of the best players in the NBA are still a few years away from even being at their peak, whereas other players have already reached their apex.</p>



<p id="block-d469ccb2-7367-4507-9f95-ed841834ef89">There are a number of players that stand out as obvious choices to become the league’s next prominent figures. Trying to rank the under-25 players in the league would be an effort fraught with anguish, headaches, and an unlimited supply of regret</p>



<p id="block-a78828d1-df1d-4495-bd1c-d1f9440af4a4">The NBA has seen a genuine change of the guard in recent seasons, with a plethora of promising young players emerging as franchise-changing stars. As of right now, these three NBA players are the best of the best among those who are under the age of 25.</p>



<h2 id="block-6949c155-05c8-4e07-af7d-73f219b39c77">3. Ja Morant</h2>



<p id="block-bfd308e6-0146-4a33-95b2-17b53a3bbac5"><strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-point-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221120-SPD-3175.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ja Morant</a></strong> is one of the most exciting players in the NBA right now because of his combination of talent, incredible athleticism, explosiveness, and high effort level every game.</p>



<p id="block-1d93e71c-d6f2-4234-8f1f-16f0ab29670b">Everything you get from him is a unique adventure, from his defiant defiance of gravity to his sudden floaters to theatrical passes to the sheer and total feeling of unpredictability once he leaves his feet. But what makes his flair so attractive is that it is also functional. Without Morant, the Grizzlies would not be able to consistently exceed expectations and win championships.</p>



<h2 id="block-613b0577-dd49-4028-98c3-2e61f79c54de">2. Jayson Tatum</h2>



<p id="block-f4373eaf-aeff-4659-9101-b41f8d764adc">In the Eastern Conference Finals in his debut 2017 season, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-centers-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221124-SPD-3193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Tatum</strong></a> and the Celtics fell to LeBron James and the Cavaliers by a score of 4-1. Two more trips to the Eastern Conference Finals have followed, both times with Tatum at the helm for the Celtics.</p>



<p id="block-df2fc6db-4994-4cab-a172-4ea56bf49e0a">With career highs in points (26.9), rebounds (8.0), and assists (4.4) per game, Tatum was selected to play in his third consecutive All-Star game. After a sluggish start, he helped the Celtics go on a 28-7 tear in the second half of the season. The result was the Celtics finishing second in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the first-place Miami Heat.</p>



<h2 id="block-aa26a5d4-6f7c-4dc8-ab05-f17fb96222a5">1. Luka Doncic</h2>



<p id="block-630cde24-149e-4f5f-ae93-9a79cd6e7c0b">There just aren’t enough superlatives to sum up <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-point-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221120-SPD-3175.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Luka Doncic</strong></a>‘s offensive effect. His ability to make shots at every level, see the big picture, be physically strong, switch speeds, and remain unfazed under pressure is legendary.</p>



<p id="block-571ba613-ce8d-4214-9617-f26b27e7d947">Even though his club has one of the weakest supporting casts in recent memory, the 23-year-old phenom has seized over this postseason and led them to the Western Conference Finals. The four-year veteran has already been named to the NBA’s All-Star team three times and to the league’s All-NBA team twice.</p>


Top three under-25 players in 2022-23 NBA season

Top three under-25 players in 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p>The <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-small-forwards-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221202-SPD-3219.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a></strong> is teeming with youthful talent, and even the youngest players can have an instant impact on a championship team. Some of the best players in the NBA are still a few years away from even being at their peak, whereas other players have already reached their apex.</p>



<p>There are a number of players that stand out as obvious choices to become the league’s next prominent figures. Trying to rank the under-25 players in the league would be an effort fraught with anguish, headaches, and an unlimited supply of regret.</p>



<p>The NBA has seen a genuine change of the guard in recent seasons, with a plethora of promising young players emerging as franchise-changing stars. As of right now, these three NBA players are the best of the best among those who are under the age of 25.</p>



<h2>3. Ja Morant</h2>



<p><strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-point-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221120-SPD-3175.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ja Morant</a></strong> is one of the most exciting players in the NBA right now because of his combination of talent, incredible athleticism, explosiveness, and high effort level every game.</p>



<p>Everything you get from him is a unique adventure, from his defiant defiance of gravity to his sudden floaters to theatrical passes to the sheer and total feeling of unpredictability once he leaves his feet. But what makes his flair so attractive is that it is also functional. Without Morant, the Grizzlies would not be able to consistently exceed expectations and win championships.</p>



<h2>2. Jayson Tatum</h2>



<p>In the Eastern Conference Finals in his debut 2017 season, <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-centers-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221124-SPD-3193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Tatum</strong></a> and the Celtics fell to LeBron James and the Cavaliers by a score of 4-1. Two more trips to the Eastern Conference Finals have followed, both times with Tatum at the helm for the Celtics.</p>



<p>With career highs in points (26.9), rebounds (8.0), and assists (4.4) per game, Tatum was selected to play in his third consecutive All-Star game. After a sluggish start, he helped the Celtics go on a 28-7 tear in the second half of the season. The result was the Celtics finishing second in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the first-place Miami Heat.</p>



<h2>1. Luka Doncic</h2>



<p>There just aren’t enough superlatives to sum up <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-point-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221120-SPD-3175.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Luka Doncic</strong></a>‘s offensive effect. His ability to make shots at every level, see the big picture, be physically strong, switch speeds, and remain unfazed under pressure is legendary. </p>



<p>Even though his club has one of the weakest supporting casts in recent memory, the 23-year-old phenom has seized over this postseason and led them to the Western Conference Finals. The four-year veteran has already been named to the NBA’s All-Star team three times and to the league’s All-NBA team twice. </p>


Top 3 under 25 players in 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS

Top 3 under 25 players in 2022-23 NBA season


<p>One of the most important roles on the court for an NBA team is the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-power-forwards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221118-SPD-3169.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">point guard</a></strong>. A team’s point guard is the most important player, even more so than the shooting guard, small forward, power forward, or focus. In fact, the point guard is the team’s leader on the court. </p>



<p>As with any successful offensive, the timing, tempo, and flow of the play are crucial. Having a spokesperson who is responsible for viewing the floor more than anyone else on the court makes for far more rhythmic offenses than a team that relies on shooting power and a small forward to lead the movement.</p>



<p>Based on their individual records, total games played, and the impact of the teams they’ve been a part of, a large number of players have earned a place among the top point guards of all time. These are the three best point guards in the NBA right now, who are still yet to reach those highs, as per <em>NBA.com</em>.</p>



<h2>3. Ja Morant</h2>



<p>One of the league’s most dynamic players, Ja Morant, reached a new level of performance last year, scoring 30 points or more 24 times. His season best was a staggering 52 points, scored on February 28 against the Spurs. Now that the Grizzlies are no longer a pleasant surprise, do they have another gear left, or do they still need a player or two to become serious championship contenders?</p>



<h2>2. Stephen Curry</h2>



<p>Curry, who led the Warriors to the NBA championship last season, averaged 30+ points 21 times throughout the regular season of 2021-22, including a 50-point, 7-rebound, 10-assist performance against the Hawks on November 8. The NBA world is debating whether he or Magic Johnson is the better point guard. Even though he and Magic play in such distinct styles, he has a chance to cement his status as the finest player to ever play the position with another great season.</p>



<h2>1. Luka Doncic</h2>



<p>Most people think that <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">Luka Doncic</a></strong>, at the tender age of 23, is already one of the league’s top five players. The issue now is whether or not he can lead the Mavs to a championship without a superstar teammate. He made significant progress toward that goal last season by leading Dallas to the Western Conference Finals. </p>



<p>The figures he put up in the playoffs were equally absurd: he scored at least 40 points three times and at least 30 points in nine of the 15 games he played in throughout the 2022 postseason.</p>


Top 3 point guards for 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS

Top 3 point guards for 2022-23 NBA season


<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 <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-free-agency-jalen-brunson-agrees-four-year-104-million-deal-with-knicks-1947-20220702-SPD-1947.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dallas Mavericks</a></strong> have known for some time they have a gem in their hands in <strong>Luka Doncic</strong>. Last season, the Slovenian star put all the doubts to rest and confirm how far he can take this team.</p>



<p>The <strong>Mavs</strong> may have not won the title, but their trip to the <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-stephen-curry-wins-first-finals-mvp-award-in-career-1586-20220617-SPD-1586.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Finals</a></strong> was remarkable regardless. Therefore, it will be hard to ask fans to lower their expectations when they have such a talent on their side.</p>



<p>Mavericks head coach <strong>Jason Kidd</strong> understands those championship aspirations, but he made something clear to all fans: Doncic may have what it takes to lead the team to a title one day, but they’ll probably <strong>have to wait for it.</strong></p>



<h2>Jason Kidd says a championship team cannot be built overnight</h2>



<p><em>“Luka is the start and finish for us,</em>” Kidd said, via Mavs insider Landon Thomas. <em>“He did a great job for us all season and the big thing is for us to build on that. <strong>I know expectations are going to be high with Luka but again, we want to build a championship team and it just doesn’t happen overnight</strong>.”</em></p>



<p>Kidd knows a thing or two about this matter, so it would be wise to listen him. Luka can do incredible things, but he <strong>still needs help to take this team to the promised land.</strong> Building around him will probably take a bit longer.</p>


Jason Kidd asks fans to be patient for Luka Doncic, Mavs to win a championship - thesportsdrops NEWS

Jason Kidd asks fans to be patient for Luka Doncic, Mavs to win a championship


<p>Wednesday night was Game 1 of the <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-playoffs-format-how-does-the-nba-postseason-work-126-20220502-SPD-126.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Western Conference Final</a></strong> between the <strong><a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-referees-salary-how-much-do-they-earn-per-game-and-year-131-20220502-SPD-131.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> </strong>and <strong>Dallas Mavericks.</strong></p>



<p>It’s no secret that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson pose a danger to the Dallas Mavericks, but<strong> <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-point-guards-of-all-time-in-nba-107-20220502-SPD-107.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luka Doncic</a></strong> believes that <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">Draymond Green</a></strong> also poses a concern. In order to shut down Doncic and the Mavs, the Warriors will rely on the 32-year-old power forward.</p>



<p>The influence of Green on the defense of the Warriors is just as great or even greater than that of his colleagues, despite the fact that he does not score as many points as they do.</p>



<h2>Doncic shares real feelings about Green</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><em>“I have so much respect for Draymond, man… Obviously Klay and Steph are incredible offensive guys, but I think the key to the Warriors team is Draymond. He is just so unbelievable, and I really respect everything he does.”</em></p><p><em>“[Draymond] impacts the game in every other way, I really have a lot of respect for this guy.” When reminded that the initial question was about trash talk, Luka laughed and said, “You never hear me trash talking in the media. But obviously we’re gonna have some words, that’s the fun about the game. I love that part.”</em></p><cite>Doncic told Tim MacMahon of <em>ESPN</em></cite></blockquote>


Luka Doncic