![Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are the betting favorites to win the NBA MVP award this season. [photo: USA Today]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/b75ed-16783739278969-1920.jpg)
![Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are the betting favorites to win the NBA MVP award this season. [photo: USA Today]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%207.0677083333333'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAcACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABiAAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACBAAAQMFAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAFBxESEyExAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAxEAAQIGAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQRITFBBRIy/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCWjDcfv1sgzLHFQq8Ib6IcBIaZeIClKG/YU2ToVckvDuMI0t9kRIQ8bq0a4eGuTr4BSlW5yXZE8ohNASqidC+oTMy909UxcWOI/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The NBA MVP race is heating up with most teams down to their last 20 or so games in the regular season.
Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo have emerged as the clear-cut top three players who could wrest the regular season’s most coveted award. All three have had the opportunity to lead the NBA’s MVP rankings, but it’s now time to solidify their bids.
Here’s why the names on this list could win the MVP award this year:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
For most of the season, Giannis Antetokoumpo has somewhat just lurked in the shadow of the regular season’s top award rankings. Despite putting up elite numbers, most analysts favored Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum over him.
Following their 114-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 22, the Milwaukee Bucks held a 29-17 record for third place in the Eastern Conference. They were six games behind the Boston Celtics for the top seed in their conference.
Fast forward two nights ago, Milwaukee now owns the best record in the NBA with a 47-18 card. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s NBA MVP-level play has incredibly catapulted the Bucks to the top of the entire league.
The “Greek Freak” is averaging a career-high 31.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists on 53.9% shooting from behind the arc.
Most betting sites have him between +900 and +650 to win the NBA MVP race. He could pull off an upset of sorts as the regular-season winds down.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid is perhaps the sentimental favorite to win the NBA MVP this season. He has placed second to Nikola Jokic in the said race over the last two years. The Philadelphia 76ers superstar might finally nail the award.
Before the Milwaukee Bucks started their blistering stretch, the 76ers were the hottest team in the NBA. They had a 25-16 record when they lost 133-114 to the OKC Thunder on January 12. They’ve gone 18-6 since then and now tote a 43-22 win-loss slate.
Philly were in 7th place at the time but have now surged to third in the conference. The 76ers are just two games behind the Boston Celtics (46-21) for the second seed. Joel Embiid hasn’t slowed down even for just a bit, particularly with his play on both ends of the floor.
Joel Embiid is averaging a career-high 33.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks. He is shooting 53.7% from the field, including 36.3% from behind the arc.
On most nights, opponents have no idea how to contain him. Embiid won the scoring crown last season by averaging 30.6 PPG. He’s improved that average by nearly three points, which is just incredible.
Joel Embiid showed that he is as good, if not better, than the two other contenders for the NBA MVP award. Against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on January 29, he exploded for 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.
Embiid put a "smackdown" on Jokic on both ends of the floor that night and showed why he’s deserving to win the Michael Jordan Trophy.
“The Process” is between +500 and +425 to finally claim the award he has missed out on over the last two years.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is the heavy favorite to win the NBA MVP award this year. He could win the most prestigious regular-season award for the third straight year. The last player to accomplish such a feat was legendary Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird, who won it in 1984-86.
Forget the advanced metrics, which critics of the Serbian have endlessly brought up. The raw numbers suggest that he could be the best player in the league right now.
Nikola Jokic is averaging 24.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.2 steals. “The Joker” is also hitting 63.0% of his field goals, including 39.8% from deep. He has failed to convert at least 50% of his shots this season only once.
The back-to-back NBA MVP has been accused of stat padding. Jokic has belittled this claim, which is proven by the way he plays.
The NBA MVP is usually the best player on the best team. Nikola Jokic may very well have a claim to that. The Denver Nuggets own a 46-20 record, the best in the Western Conference. They are seven games ahead of the Sacramento Kings (38-26) as the top seed in their conference.
Jokic is -400 and -325 among most betting sites to win his third NBA MVP award.
You may also like to read: 5 tightest NBA MVP races of the 21st century
