
<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

miniaturas


<p>The <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-players-that-might-challenge-nikola-jokic-for-2023-nba-mvp-award-20230318-SPD-3509.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Draft</a> </strong>is a place where not many teams have found success. Of course, it helps to sign a superstar like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or <strong><a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-records-does-lebron-james-hold-complete-list-of-the-forwards-records-in-nba-20230208-SPD-3383.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a></strong>, but that doesn’t happen every season.</p>



<p>Due to the subjective nature of the draft process, scouts often fail to notice important details. Several second-round choices have been more influential than first-round picks due to their intangible qualities, the system, or even the opportunity for improvement.</p>



<p>While the first-round choices usually attract more attention, the second-round has produced some of the league’s most successful players. In this piece, we will examine the three best players ever selected in the second round of the NBA Draft.</p>



<h2>3. Draymond Green</h2>



<p>In the history of the NBA, Draymond Green is regarded as one of the top second-round choices. In the 2012 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors selected him as the 35th overall selection. Green is a fantastic all-around player who excels both defensively and offensively. </p>



<p>He has been chosen to three NBA All-Star teams, five NBA All-Defensive teams, and earned the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016–17, and his club has won three NBA titles. Due in large part to Green’s one-of-a-kind blend of skills, the Warriors have been so successful over the last decade.</p>



<h2>2. Dennis Rodman</h2>



<p>Throughout the history of the NBA, Dennis Rodman has stood out as one of the most original players. In the 1986 NBA Draft, he was picked 27th overall by the Detroit Pistons. Rodman’s unrelenting work ethic and exceptional defensive skills made him an integral part of the Pistons’ championship teams in the late 1980s. </p>



<p>Five NBA titles later, he had also been honored seven times as a member of the league’s All-Defensive First Team. In addition to his seven NBA rebounding titles, Rodman won the award twice.</p>



<h2>1. Nikola Jokic</h2>



<p>Nikola Jokic is the most recent player to join the exclusive company of previous second-round choices in the NBA Draft. Denver Nuggets used the 41st selection in the 2014 NBA Draft to choose him. In a short amount of time, Jokic has established himself as a legitimate superstar and one of the league’s best big men. </p>



<p>As the NBA’s lowest draft selection ever to win MVP, he made history with his 2020-21 season. Jokic’s offensive and defensive strengths stem from his ability to score, distribute, and grab rebounds.</p>


Top 3 best players ever selected in the NBA Draft second round

Top 3 best players ever selected in the NBA Draft second round - 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 id="block-ea9a0d63-14b7-4edd-9928-0500a0b405bf">With the advent of the <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">NBA</a></strong> in the late 1940s, it became clear that each team required a towering center to have any chance of winning the title. There have been many great centers to play professional basketball in a league that is still expanding after more than 70 years.</p>



<p id="block-b49d11c0-50ee-425a-b398-1634988a7374">The NBA center position has a rich history of prominence. Many teams rely heavily on this position, and it has been filled by some of the game’s all-time greats. Defenders at the center position must focus on protecting the basket and securing offensive boards.</p>



<p id="block-7169e422-77ab-458e-9730-3d49a5190545">This particular position has enjoyed a revival in recent years, and in the previous two seasons, a player of this position was awarded the league’s most valuable player trophy, marking the position’s pinnacle. Thus, big, skilled players are returning to the position in droves. These are the three best centers in the NBA right now, who are still yet to reach those highs, as per&nbsp;<em>NBA.com</em>.</p>



<h2 id="block-368b32b5-0f4e-4e3d-bdea-0f21d24b7ba1">3. Bam Adebayo</h2>



<p id="block-1b672db2-e975-4088-916e-228d8e7adf85">Adebayo’s case for being the top defender in the NBA right now is strong. His absence from 26 games last season cost him the chance to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year title, which went to Marcus Smart. Adebayo placed in the bottom four. The Heat, who missed out on the NBA Finals by a single game, allowed a league-low 41.3 points per game to be scored in the paint in the 2021-22 season.</p>



<h2 id="block-84a89c52-c99e-4dd3-8146-9756dedb5845">2. Joel Embiid</h2>



<p id="block-881d2fbd-8d80-439b-821c-24a13c9302de">Embiid averaged 30.6% of the team’s points last year, making him the first center to lead the NBA in scoring since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000. He had 13 games where he scored 40 or more points, including his second career 50-point effort, which came on January 19 against the Magic. The concern of whether or not he will be healthy for the playoffs arises every year, since this has not been the case in the previous two seasons.</p>



<h2 id="block-f53ee6d9-9ab6-4798-92af-973c00f4a9d1">1. Nikola Jokic</h2>



<p id="block-c98b9160-c4ae-408d-9932-4b5ce327ea2a">The previous player to win three straight MVP honors was Larry Bird, who did it from 1984 to 1986. After winning the award the last two years in a row, <strong>Jokic</strong> will have a chance to become the third player to do so.</p>



<p id="block-f99eb8ef-55ba-4d28-bd2d-fb596f8c9eec">He is stunning to see, is unstoppable in the post, and is the finest big-man passer in the history of the game. Not only is he shattering the most complex statistics, but he was also the top offensive player in the league last season based on simple box score analysis.</p>


Top 3 centers in 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 centers in 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS


<p id="block-b93cc514-fc81-4945-bcb9-07641874af14">With the advent of the <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">NBA</a></strong> in the late 1940s, it became clear that each team required a towering center to have any chance of winning the title. There have been many great centers to play professional basketball in a league that is still expanding after more than 70 years.</p>



<p id="block-93fd3979-5171-4936-a20b-1278c47a9bce">The NBA center position has a rich history of prominence. Many teams rely heavily on this position, and it has been filled by some of the game’s all-time greats. Defenders at the center position must focus on protecting the basket and securing offensive boards.</p>



<p id="block-48a7d217-e941-420c-b891-d6b7b452746d">This particular position has enjoyed a revival in recent years, and in the previous two seasons, a player of this position was awarded the league’s most valuable player trophy, marking the position’s pinnacle. Thus, big, skilled players are returning to the position in droves. These are the three best centers in the NBA right now, who are still yet to reach those highs, as per&nbsp;<em>NBA.com</em>.</p>



<h2 id="block-e481451a-9525-4406-b367-907b917db355">3. Bam Adebayo</h2>



<p id="block-4518d1dd-1b00-4c36-ba6a-074ce4b9b030">Adebayo’s case for being the top defender in the NBA right now is strong. His absence from 26 games last season cost him the chance to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year title, which went to Marcus Smart. Adebayo placed in the bottom four. The Heat, who missed out on the NBA Finals by a single game, allowed a league-low 41.3 points per game to be scored in the paint in the 2021-22 season.</p>



<h2 id="block-c498f8dd-25b0-4e3d-9149-a8c8c26dce5a">2. Joel Embiid</h2>



<p id="block-9d7f2370-7f15-40f3-a887-e5a28ccf84b8">Embiid averaged 30.6% of the team’s points last year, making him the first center to lead the NBA in scoring since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000. He had 13 games where he scored 40 or more points, including his second career 50-point effort, which came on January 19 against the Magic. The concern of whether or not he will be healthy for the playoffs arises every year, since this has not been the case in the previous two seasons.</p>



<h2 id="block-1f4cfde5-9436-4820-9462-17d38da0c990">1. Nikola Jokic</h2>



<p id="block-28d96002-8130-4f48-835f-d8bfaef50163">The previous player to win three straight MVP honors was Larry Bird, who did it from 1984 to 1986. After winning the award the last two years in a row, <strong>Jokic</strong> will have a chance to become the third player to do so.</p>



<p id="block-c83ceb7d-f4d4-4fc0-8aef-bcf3032de25f">He is stunning to see, is unstoppable in the post, and is the finest big-man passer in the history of the game. Not only is he shattering the most complex statistics, but he was also the top offensive player in the league last season based on simple box score analysis.</p>


Top 3 centers for 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS

Top 3 centers for 2022-23 NBA season

destacadas


<p>With the advent of the <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">NBA</a></strong> in the late 1940s, it became clear that each team required a towering center to have any chance of winning the title. There have been many great centers to play professional basketball in a league that is still expanding after more than 70 years.</p>



<p>The NBA center position has a rich history of prominence. Many teams rely heavily on this position, and it has been filled by some of the game’s all-time greats. Defenders at the center position must focus on protecting the basket and securing offensive boards.</p>



<p>This particular position has enjoyed a revival in recent years, and in the previous two seasons, a player of this position was awarded the league’s most valuable player trophy, marking the position’s pinnacle. Thus, big, skilled players are returning to the position in droves. These are the three best centers in the NBA right now, who are still yet to reach those highs, as per&nbsp;<em>NBA.com</em>.</p>



<h2>3. Bam Adebayo</h2>



<p>Adebayo’s case for being the top defender in the NBA right now is strong. His absence from 26 games last season cost him the chance to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year title, which went to Marcus Smart. Adebayo placed in the bottom four. The Heat, who missed out on the NBA Finals by a single game, allowed a league-low 41.3 points per game to be scored in the paint in the 2021-22 season.</p>



<h2>2. Joel Embiid</h2>



<p>Embiid averaged 30.6% of the team’s points last year, making him the first center to lead the NBA in scoring since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000. He had 13 games where he scored 40 or more points, including his second career 50-point effort, which came on January 19 against the Magic. The concern of whether or not he will be healthy for the playoffs arises every year, since this has not been the case in the previous two seasons.</p>



<h2>1. Nikola Jokic</h2>



<p>The previous player to win three straight MVP honors was Larry Bird, who did it from 1984 to 1986. After winning the award the last two years in a row, <strong>Jokic</strong> will have a chance to become the third player to do so. </p>



<p>He is stunning to see, is unstoppable in the post, and is the finest big-man passer in the history of the game. Not only is he shattering the most complex statistics, but he was also the top offensive player in the league last season based on simple box score analysis.</p>



<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>


Nikola Jokic

Top 3 greatest 2023 NBA MVP Award snubs

Top 3 best players ever selected in the NBA Draft second round

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

Top 3 centers in 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 centers for 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 centers for 2022-23 NBA season

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

2021-22 NBA MVP Award: Nikola Jokic edges out Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid

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