Top-5 MVP Candidates
Heading into the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the race for arguably one of the most prestigious individual awards is starting to come to a close. Several players have been in and out of the race throughout the year. DeMar DeRozan was in the conversation for MVP, but his struggles have led to the Bulls' plummet in the standings, and he fell out of the discussion. Tatum has emerged as a possible dark horse contender for the award, but the two constants have always been the two best centers in the league in Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić. Here are my top five candidates for the MVP award as the regular season begins to reach its last leg:
C/O: Sporting News/Jordan Greer
1. Nikola Jokić:
The triple-double machine, Nikola Jokić is coming off his first MVP award, and he may be even better this season than the previous. The Joker is a true all-around threat and has the ability to pass the ball like a point guard, and score at will even with the opposition keying in on him on every possession. It is hard to argue with 26.3 points per game to go along with 13.6 boards per game, and a whopping 8.0 assists.
The 6'11" Serbian can do it all, putting this Nuggets team on his back with two of their top three players on their roster out for a significant amount of time. He has played every game, but seven, and without him, Denver is 2-5. Out of all the players in the top-10 in scoring, Jokić has played the second-most games, behind only Jayson Tatum.
As the Nuggets head coach, Mike Malone said a few months ago, "If he's not MVP, then who is?" Jokić is in reality the most impactful player when he is on the floor in the NBA on the offensive end. As the season comes to an end, Jokić is without a doubt the leader when it comes to the MVP conversation. A lot can change, but given the consistency, importance to his team, and sheer ability to do almost anything with the ball in his hands, Jokić is the runaway 2022 NBA MVP.
C/O: The Associated Press
2. Joel Embiid:
29.9 points per game and 11.4 boards. Embiid is the definition of domination in the painted area. His fadeaway has become his go-to shot, and his stroke behind the three-point line continues to become a problem. His body of 280 lbs makes it almost impossible for players to outmuscle him, and prevent him from finding a way to the basket. His creativity around the basket has continued to get better, as he has the talent to find ways to score from a multitude of different angles.
This season without their star big man, the 76ers are 3-8, showing how important he is to a team that has aspirations of going far in the postseason this year. While he has not proven anything in the playoffs during his career, this is a regular-season award, despite the arguments against it. Since coming to the city of Brotherly Love, Harden has praised Embiid as the MVP of the league. While he may not play the most enjoyable brand of basketball, he gets the job done on the box score and in the win column. On a per-game basis, the former Kansas product has gone to the free-throw line more than anyone this season.
If Embiid does win his first MVP, there will be no surprise. His skill is undeniable. In the post, Embiid is virtually unguardable with his big body, and a variety of tricks in his bag to find his teammates or score a bucket. The big man is the center point of the 76ers offense even with Harden in the mix now. The duo was prolific at the beginning of their time together, but most of the time, Philadelphia has proved to be inconsistent. With the playoffs looming in the near future, Embiid and the Sixers may have the most pressure on themselves than any other team that will make the postseason. As for Embiid and his MVP case, he is one of the top contenders, but Jokić's ability to do virtually everything on the offensive end gives him the edge over the elite paint play of the 28-year-old Cameroonian.
C/O: Benny Sieu
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo:
The defending Finals MVP, Antetokounmpo has continued his brilliance in the 2022 season. The former two-time MVP has put up 29.9 points per game, 11.6 rebounds to go along with 5.8 assists per contest. Giannis causes a mismatch for every team that he faces. His long build, strength, and shot-making ability inside have helped bring the Bucks to the two seed in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee has been one of the most consistent teams this season, and most of that credit has to go to Giannis and his leadership following helping the Bucks to their first title since 1971.
The Bucks have gone 5-6 without Giannis this season, and the talent of the Milwaukee roster has the potential to take home the victory behind Middleton, and Holiday. He and Jokić are on track to break Wilt Chamberlains' record for highest PER in a single season. Jokić is leading the league by a slim margin right now, but in early March, Giannis had the lead in one of the statistics that try to encapsulate all that a player contributes into a single number.
"The Greek Freak" can no doubt win his three MVP awards, and if he does, he will be just the ninth player to win three MVP awards during his career. The list of players with three MVPs includes Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Moes Malone, among other legends of the game. Giannis is no doubt already an NBA great after his run to the NBA title, but he once again has led the Bucks to one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. His shooting flaw is still a problem, but it continues to get better each year. Free throw shooting is still an issue for the former international product, but over the past three seasons, his percentage from the charity stripe has increased. He has been consistent from the beginning of the season to now, but the two players in front of him have been more influential on their team than he was this season.
C/O: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
4. Jayson Tatum:
The dark horse candidate to take home the award is Tatum as he has elevated his game to a whole new level that many doubted he could reach. Boston has been the best team in the NBA since the end of the month of January. The key reason is due to the passing, and shot-making qualities of Tatum, who has caused opposing coaches nightmares on the offensive and even defensive end. The former Duke star is one of two players in the NBA this season to have two games of 51 or more points along with Kevin Durant.
The argument against Tatum is that he has not done this at a consistent level throughout the season, but in the month of March, Tatum is third in the league in scoring, with 33.6 points per game, behind only LeBron, and Kyrie. If Boston is able to capture the number one seed, Tatum may move up in the rankings, but as of now, he is without question top-five in the MVP discussion. Tatum has played the most games out of all the players in the top-10 in scoring this season, proving his durability.
His ability to read defenses, and create open shots for his teammates is something that critics have been preaching to him to do to take his game to the next level. Tatum is tenth in the NBA in points per game, and 8.1 boards to go along with 4.3 assists. While his passing is much better, Tatum's assist numbers are not just there compared to Jokić who is averaging almost double what Tatum is. If Tatum does not win the award this season, he has to be one of the top contenders for next season's award. Watching him play in 2022 has demonstrated to the league how good he can be, and the only way he can go is up for a player that is only 24 years of age.
C/O: Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
5. Luka Dončić:
Finding the player to round out the top-five candidates this season is tough with all the talent that is around the league, but it is tough to argue with the Mavericks starting point guard, Luka Dončić. He has a smooth way of playing the game of basketball that makes one of the toughest sports out there look so easy. Luka is seventh in the NBA in scoring and averages around nine assists and nine rebounds per game.
Dallas is 8-9 this season without their star, but four of those wins have come against the Rockets and the Sacramento Kings. Luka will no doubt win an MVP award at some point in his career. Patrick Beverley came out and said a few weeks ago that Luka is the toughest player to defend in the entire league. Dončić has a win over both top MVP candidates this season and is on track for his third straight All-NBA first-team appearance.
Dončić has brought it on a consistent basis this season and has led the Mavericks to the fourth seed in the Western Conference. There is not another supporting superstar on this Dallas team, and Luka is tasked to run the entire offense. The Slovenian attracts so much attention, but still finds a way to finish through a swarming defense, or hit a step-back dagger in a situation where the opposition may think they have stopped him.
C/O: The Associated Press
Honorable Mentions:
-Ja Morant:
The player in the MVP conversation has improved the most from 2021 to 2022. Morant has brought the Grizzlies from the eighth seed in the Western Conference to the two seed in one of the most unpredictable outcomes of the season. He may better fit in the discussion for Most Improved Player, but his numbers prove he can be in talks for the MVP. Ninth in the NBA in scoring, Morant uses his elite athleticism, and craftiness to make some of the most miraculous of baskets.
-Karl-Anthony Towns:
This spot could have Durant, Young, DeRozan, or even Booker, but Towns is more important to the Wolves than almost any star is to their team right now. Injuries matter and the former Kentucky star is one of two players to net 60 or more points in a single game along with Kyrie. MVP is a long shot for an MVP, but the way he is playing, it would not be a surprise if he makes All-NBA second team or finds himself in future MVP discussions if he continues to play the way he is. The defending three-point contest champion can school the opposition in the post and on the perimeter. The sky's the limit for Towns, who has led the Timberwolves to their best season since the Kevin Garnett days in 2003 and 2004.
