In a season packed with great performances and consistent individual brilliance, three players have separated themselves from the rest in the NBA MVP race.
Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo they will leave voters struggling to make the final decision when the ballots arrive at their desks. Each member of this elite trio has a compelling argument to take home the trophy, which will spark intense discussion among fans and members of the media.
If you’re looking for the best way to tackle this year’s MVP debate and get others on your side, you’ve come to the right place.
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Nikola Jokic’s side
Arguments in favor of Jokic
Jokic, already a two-time MVP, has somehow managed raise your level of play again. Almost promised a triple-double (24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game), and scores at an incredibly efficient rate (63.6 / 40.0 / 82.1 from the field, triples and free throws).
Jokic is the engine of the second best offense in the NBA. He scares post defenders if he sees individual coverage and creates easy shots for his teammates without hogging the ball if an opposing coach dares to double-team him. There is simply no good strategy to stop it.
There is also very clear evidence of Jokic’s “value” for the Nuggets. the numbers are great when playing and disastrous when sitting, which continues the trend of recent years. It’s the main reason Denver is in a position to clinch the top spot in the Western Conference.
Arguments against Jokic
Yes, we must talk about the defense.
Jokic is easily the weakest defender in this group, regardless of what some advanced stats say. He’s not a basket case in that regard, but the Nuggets are schematically limited in what they can do when he’s on the field. If his effort decreases minimally, low points can be very low.
In attack, he can sometimes be too eager to get out of the game. He doesn’t always make his opponents “suffer” him in the same way that Embiid or Antetokounmpo do. He doesn’t possess the same type of physique and athletic ability.
From a team standpoint, Jokic’s numbers are inflated by Denver’s poor second unit. Embiid and Antetokounmpo shouldn’t be penalized because their teams don’t completely fall apart without them.
Joel Embiid’s Side
Arguments in favor of Embiid
The keyword for Embiid is domain. Is he top scorer NBA player, with 33.2 points per game, and is shooting 54.7% from the field, the best mark of his career this season. He is a beast in the post and a master from midrange. Sometimes the only option is to foul him, and he makes free throws at a rate of 85.6%.
Embiid is also a defensive monster in the paint. He is sixth in the league with 1.7 blocks per game, and opponents attack the rim far less often when his 7-foot-1, 275-pound frame gets in the way. As ESPN’s Tim Legler explainedthe defense could be the difference if the debate were between Embiid and Jokic.
Although the 76ers got off to a slow start in October and November, they’ve been electric in recent months. They have the best net rating in the NBA since the All-Star break, and could clinch one of the top two spots in the Eastern Conference before the end of the season.
Arguments against Embiid
Embiid has emerged as the favorite in recent weeks, but as mentioned above, the Sixers weren’t killing teams at the start of the season. Those matches count as much as those in February and March.
It’s not the same kind of offensive generator than Jokic or Antetokounmpo. He trails both in assists per game, and can be affected by defenses duplicated on him when the extra defender isn’t in his line of sight. Embiid benefits from having an All-NBA guard in James Harden leading the team.
Despite his great defensive ability, Embiid is prone to occasional slip-ups. He’s also not as versatile as Antetokounmpo, who is a terror both at the rim and changing defenses on the perimeter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s side
Arguments in favor of Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo, a man with two MVP trophies at home, has fallen somehow to third in many of these discussions. He’s averaging 31.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and a career-high 5.5 assists per game, and his Bucks are the best team in the league.
He “Greek Freak” he remains an unstoppable force on offense and defense. He is relentless in his transition attacks, and when defending he can single-handedly destroy a possession with his agility and length. Even when he’s not shooting well, he makes his mark on the game.
And really, when you strip everything else out and consider the basic questions of “who’s the best player in the world?” or “who is the rival you don’t want to face in the Playoffs?”, Antetokounmpo seems to be the correct answer.
Arguments against Antetokounmpo
Yes, Antetokounmpo is scoring a lot of points, but his efficiency is down from years past. he is a shooter significantly worse from a distance than Jokic and Embiid, and his percentage of success in free throws has fallen to 64.7%.
Antetokounmpo is critical to Milwaukee’s defensive success, but he’s in an ideal situation with Jrue Holiday y Jevon Carter bothering the rival guards and Brook Lopez bothering shots all over the court. Once again, we should not penalize a player for having good or bad teammates. However, when differentiating them, it is necessary to take into account the amount of liability at each end.
There’s also a notable minute difference between Antetokounmpo and his competitors. He has played 1,844 total minutes this season, compared to Embiid’s 2,047 and Jokic’s 2,206. If Milwaukee rests him before the playoffs, that gap could increase.
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
