Three Bigs Lead the Race to NBA MVP

Ryan D’Amico
Staff Writer

The NBA’s MVP debate is up for grabs every year. Questions and personal opinions go around at the start of each year, “Who do you think this year?” and “I think so and so will win this year because …” This year’s debate has been an interesting one with around ten players being in potential MVP contention throughout the season. Some players have been improving their MVP resumes all season while others have just jumped into the race and others have fallen out.

Someone who has been in the conversation all year long has been Joel Embiid, center of the Philadelphia 76ers. From the start of the 2021-2022 season, he has been excellent. Embiid has been dealing with injuries which have always hindered his previous MVP cases This year he has been able to stay consistent all year and hasn’t lost time to injury as much as previous seasons. Averaging around 29.9 points per game, second place in the league behind LeBron James, and 11.4 rebounds per game with a PER of 31.04 being 3rd in the league. Embiid has been the most serious contender and front runner for the MVP this season as well as the success his 76ers have had this season.

Bigs in the league have been dominating over the past half decade and have started to make a comeback as star players. Nikola Jokic was the MVP last year and is making a serious case to win it again this year. As his team doesn’t have the same seeding but the same record as the 76ers and Embiid. He is averaging nearly a triple double this season with 26.5 points per game, 13.6 rebounds per game and 8.0 assist per game with a PER of 32.89 which is the leagues best. He has been an overall a carry for his team with his All-Star teammate out all season, Jamal Murray. Overall, I think Jokic has a pretty good chance of winning it but due to voter fatigue and the hype around other players it probably won’t be his year.

Giannis Antetokounmpo could’ve been the MVP and DPOY each of the past three years. Every year Giannis is constantly getting better and improving his game. Last year he added a championship to his resume along with already two regular season MVP’s and a DPOY. This year is no different coming off a championship, Giannis has been one of the most consistent players in the league, with his constant defensive highlights and amazing offensive show downs. Giannis has a very strong case for himself with 29.9 points per game tied with Embiid along with 11.6 rebounds per game and 6 assists with a PER of 32.47 as 2nd highest in the league behind Jokic. Overall, Giannis has been amazing this year and has led his Milwaukee Bucks to the second best record in the Eastern Conference. But with the hype around Embiid, it’s going to be a close battle between the two bigs.

Some players have had great seasons as well, but injuries and other problems held them out from the MVP conversation. Players like Ja Morant, Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, and Jayson Tatum have all been in the conversation this year at some point but haven’t been consistent enough this season due to injury and or not quite reaching their full potential. There are another two players who haven’t been getting enough recognition and it’s been Devin Booker and Luka Doncic. Devin Booker has led his Phoenix Suns to the best record in the NBA and has been a terrific shooter from anywhere on the court. Luka’s Dallas Mavericks have improved a lot with Doncic at the helm. They are currently the third seed in the Western Conference and continuing to improve in Doncic’s fourth season. LeBron James could also be included but his team is in current dismay and not even in playoff or play in tournament reach. But LeBron has been playing one of his best seasons, averaging at 37 the most points in the league and dropping multiple 50, 40 and consistent 30-point games all while being 37 years old.

Each of these players have had terrific seasons but the top three in the MVP conversation have to be Embiid, Jokic, and Giannis. They each have led their teams to terrific seasons and each have had terrific statistical seasons in different categories.

Contact Ryan at ryan.damico@student.shu.edu