Several weeks ago, the NBA Most Valuable race looked like a wide-open competition, with a number of viable candidates surging, including Sixers center Joel Embiid, Lakers forward LeBron James, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nets guard James Harden, among others. Since then, however, all of those players have missed time with injuries.
As a result, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has emerged as the clear frontrunner for this year’s MVP award, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Jokic, who is the only top candidate not to miss a game so far this season, has been outstanding, averaging new career highs in points (26.0), rebounds (10.9), and assists (8.8) per game to go along with a scorching .564/.418/.853 shooting line.
Bontemps conducted a straw poll of 101 NBA media members, and Jokic received 90 first-place votes and 969 total points, blowing away runner-up Embiid (five first-place votes; 401 points). If the outcome of the final vote is similar, Jokic will become the first center to win the MVP award since Shaquille O’Neal did so in 2000, Bontemps notes.
Here’s more on the Nuggets:
- Head coach Michael Malone said on Wednesday that Jamal Murray was “devastated” to learn that he’d suffered a torn left ACL, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “It was really hard. We stayed over for that game in San Francisco,” Malone said. “Just sitting with him on the way to the airport, your heart breaks because you can see the raw emotion that he was feeling.”
- With Murray out, the pressure is on Michael Porter Jr. to show the Nuggets he can become the team’s go-to scoring option on the perimeter, says Sean Keeler of The Denver Post. Keeler acknowledges that it’s not fair to put that sort of pressure on the 22-year-old, but writes that it’s an ideal opportunity for Porter to deliver on his star potential.
- Nick Kosmider of The Athletic also explores how the Nuggets can cope in the wake of Murray’s injury, focusing on Porter and backup point guard Monte Morris, among others.
- In case you missed it, the Nuggets and Austin Rivers are reportedly on track to finalizing a deal, perhaps a 10-day contract for now.
I’d give it to the Joker. Why? Not bc hes played every game.
No Center has come close to averaging a triple double except Wilt.
Joker is 1.2 AST away from averaging a triple double for the season. Will he get it, unlikely. But, it’s more impressive than anything done by anyone else this year.
Joel Embiid will play mvp caliber ball but will never be voted league mvp.
Does he deserve it? Yes. Does he deserve it simply because all other contenders missed time in this crammed season? Debatable.
It will be fun to see who suddenly emerges in the attrition race if Jokic misses a week at the end of the season.
Jokic has been amazing. Putting up Miami Lebron type numbers. The only reason I would question it is b/c his team is a 4-6 seed, while Embiid is on a team with the 1 seed. Him missing time hurt that though, so it should be interesting to see. The narrative is definitely in Jokic’s favor. Behind them are LeBron and Jimmy Butler, but both have missed time, Butler being earlier in the season with the protocols. I could see him being a top 3 finisher if the Heat get the 4 seed, with him being so impactful to them winning
4-6 seed? Even with the injury to Murray the Nuggets will have no problem whatsoever holding off the Lakers, Blazers, and Mavs for the #4 seed.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I would look at Dion Waiters, or even Jeremy Lin, before Austin Rivers, assuming they’re healthy. They have Monte Morris and Pj Dozier, who can give them some defense and versatility, and Shaq Harrison could allow them to play some really interesting defensive lineups they havent been able to have anything like, but 1 of those scoring options could really help them keep it together, especially with Waiters ability to get into the paint at will, and facilitate, as well as knock down outside shots, and defend adequately
Dion Waiters for MVP? How many gummies you eat lol
How many did you? Where is that ever inferred in what I said?
Even if all those players hadn’t missed time, Jokic is the clear winner this year, as simple as!
#1 Jokic
#2 Giannis
#3 Harden
#4 Luka
Clearly Embiid, KD & KAT should be in this conversation if it wasn’t for the games they missed!
El Don, I’m with you on most of the candidates, but not so much on KD and KAT. Wolves are atrocious and I think KD has missed a lot of time.
#Omarj…
I actually did say that in my opinion Embiid, KAT & KD have played at an MVP level but I didn’t put them in the list ’cause the time they missed!
Clearly LeBron is not in this conversation.
It depends how well the Nuggets do, Jokic is having the best year, but if the Nuggets finish 7th or 8th it is hard to give him the MVP with year Embiid is having and the Sixers being at the top of their conference. If he keeps the Nuggets from sliding and they finish in top 4 or 5 teams in the tough West then you give it to him.
How can there be an MVP discussion with no mention of Steph?? Blasphemy.
Steph would probably be the first ever MVP who is playing for a 10th seed.
Wait are marty and wally the same person…whoa
My list as things currently stand:
1. Jokic
2. Embiid
3. Lillard
4. Lebron
5. Luka
If you are talking MVP to his TEAM…. Curry is the front runner along with
Jokic….
In that situation, every team has an MVP…
Lol yeah no one was talking about that
Would Jokic become the first second river to win Mvp?
If u don’t believe in the river Jokic you are in de nile