This year’s race for the NBA‘s regular season MVP award has been very close and contested, and one could make a very strong argument for Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
All three have been named as the finalists for the award, and fans and pundits alike seem split on who should walk away with it.
The 2022-23 #KiaMVP Finalists.#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/zqlRWz3Lwu
— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2023
This fan thinks that not only does Jokic deserve the MVP, but that he “sits on a table where no one else does.”
Giannis and Joel are great players, but Nikola sits on a table where no one else does. He’s the MVP.
— Charly Auriazul (@Charly_Auri) April 14, 2023
These fans feel the MVP should go to Antetokounmpo, a man who already owns two such awards.
If its for the best PLAYER yes… @Giannis_An34 is the winner…. hands down
— 𝔾𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕤 ℝ.. 👀 (@giannisrigas) April 14, 2023
Giannis but politics are at play. But considering Giannis is the best player & best team … plus is the best on both ends of the court can give you buckets & plays elite defense. I’d pick him
— (Raquel) A’Zaire 👼🏾 KB-24 (@SOULbeautifulme) April 14, 2023
Give it to Giannis, he deserves it
— Salley Mitchell (@SalleyBMitchell) April 14, 2023
These fans not only think Embiid should win the award, but that he already has it in the bag, and some even feel that the deciding factor will be the fact that Embiid has allegedly complained on his behalf.
Embiid already won
— Doot Chris (@DootChris) April 14, 2023
Embiid. Tired of these politics surrounding Giannis. Look at Joel’s splits, then look at his. The eye-test alone should win Embiid the award.
— HiNote. 🛸 (@HiNoteee) April 14, 2023
Jokic would/should 3peat but we had Embiid and the media campaigning and crying for 2 months and it worked
— TWeb (@TWeb_33) April 14, 2023
Giannis is the best player there, Jokic is the most valuable, and Embiid will win because he’s complained about the award the most
— noah stump (@noahStump) April 14, 2023
Jokic was named the MVP in both of the last two seasons, and he came very close to averaging a triple-double this season while leading his team to the best record in the Western Conference.
Antetokounmpo, regardless of whether he deserves the MVP or not, is considered by many to be the best all-around player in basketball, and despite the injury bug hitting the Bucks hard this year, he got them to win more games than any other team.
While Antetokounmpo may be the finest all-around player, many consider Embiid to be the most dominant player today, and after he led the NBA in scoring during the regular season, it’s hard to argue with that sentiment.
But whoever wins this regular season’s MVP would likely trade it in for an NBA Finals MVP award.
NEXT:
The NBA MVP Finalists Have Been Made Official
