The NBA regular season has concluded, and the playoffs will begin soon. For eighty-two games, each player has done their best to lead their team to victory in hopes of winning an NBA championship. At the end of every season, the best player in the league is honored for their exceptionalism and awarded the NBA's most valuable player award.
Since its creation in 1956, the most valuable player award has been one of the rarest achievements for a player to win. Only twenty-nine players in the league's storied history have won the award, and only fourteen have won multiple MVPs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won the award more than any player in NBA history, with six MVP nods. As a team however, the Boston Celtics have the most MVP awards with ten.
The most valuable player award has seen its fair share of controversy since its creation in 1956. Nearly every season, there is backlash from viewers who believe the wrong player was named the league's most valuable player. In 2006 for example, Steve Nash was named league MVP, while many believe Kobe Bryant was more deserving.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic have all stood out as the league’s best players. These three players have been so great that their race has kept other players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant out of the race. All three players have built strong cases to win the MVP award, and whoever wins will do so deservingly.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
The Case:
Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone under the radar for much of the season in the MVP race. All eyes have been looking at Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic when Antetokounmpo has been just as good. Antetokounmpo has been stellar, as he hopes to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to another NBA title.
Antetokounmpo has averaged 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks a night, leading the Bucks to fifty-one wins. Antetokounmpo’s efficiency has been amazingly consistent, as he shoots over fifty-eight percent from the field. Some question his skills due to his lack of a consistent three-point shot, Antetokounmpo’s game has proven to be effective for the Bucks.
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
The Case:
When the future of the Philadelphia 76ers looked uncertain after the Ben Simmons saga this past offseason, Joel Embiid rose to the occasion. Embiid has been spectacular, putting up averages of 30.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, leading the 76ers to fifty-one wins. Embiid has not only been spectacular, but he has been historical.
Embiid became the first center since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to lead the NBA in scoring. Although his efficiency has not been as high as Antetokounmpo’s or Jokic’s, Embiid has been just as valuable to his team. The 76ers were not in the best situation, and Embiid stepped up tremendously to lead them back into championship contention.
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
The Case:
Nikola Jokic won the MVP award last season and became the first center to win the award since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000. Somehow, Jokic appears to have improved from last year. Last season, Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. This season, Jokic averaged 27.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 7.9 assists, having the highest PER in NBA history.
What furthers Jokic’s MVP case is his lack of a second star. Antetokounmpo played with Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, while Embiid played with James Harden. Jokic has not had a true second star to consistently play alongside, and still led the Nuggets to forty-eight wins in the loaded Western Conference.
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