In a season filled with outstanding performances and consistent individual brilliance, three players have stood out 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 debate 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, somehow managed it level up your game again. He nearly promised a triple-double (24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game) and is scoring at an incredibly efficient rate (63.6 / 40.0 / 82.1 from the field, threes and free throws ).
Jokic is the engine of the second best offense in the NBA. He terrorizes post defenders if he sees individual coverage and creates easy shots for his teammates without catching the ball if an opposing coach dares to double him. There’s just no good strategy to stop it.
There is also very clear evidence of Jokic’s “value” to the Nuggets. the numbers are great when you play and destructive when sitting, which continues the trend of recent years. He is the main reason Denver is able to take first place in the Western Conference.
Arguments against Jokic
Yes, we need to talk about defense.
Jokic is easily the weakest defender in this group, regardless of what some advanced stats say. He’s not good at it, but the Nuggets are schematically limited in what they can do when he’s on the court. If your effort drops slightly, low points can be Very low.
In attack, he can sometimes be too willing to get out of the game. He doesn’t always make his opponents “suffer” him the way Embiid or Antetokounmpo do. He doesn’t have the same 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 collapse without them.
Joel Embiid’s side
Arguments in favor of Embiid
The key word for Embiid is sector. It is him first scorer NBA player, averaging 33.2 points per game, and shooting a career-best 54.7% from the field this season. He is a beast in the post and a middle-class master. Sometimes the only option is to foul him and he makes 85.6% of his free throws.
Embiid is too a defensive monster in the paint. He’s sixth in the league with 1.7 blocks per game, and opponents attack the rim far less often when the 7-foot-7, 275-pound frame gets in the way. As ESPN’s Tim Legler explaineddefense could be the difference if the conversation was between Embiid and Jokic.
Although the 76ers got off to a slow start in October and November, they have been electric in recent months. They have the best clean sheet in the NBA since the All-Star break and could grab one of the top two spots in the Eastern Conference before the end of the season.
Arguments against Embiid
incorporate has emerged as a favorite in recent weeks, but as mentioned above, the Sixers weren’t killing teams early in the season. These matches count as much as those in February and March.
They are not the same species aggressive generator than Jokic or Antetokounmpo. He remains at two assists per game and can be affected by defenses playing to 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 prowess, Embiid is prone to occasional slips. He’s also not as versatile as Antetokounmpo, who is a terror both at the rim and switching defenses on the perimeter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s side
Arguments in favor of Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo, a man with two home MVP trophies, has somehow fallen to third place in many of these discussions. He is averaging 31.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game and his Bucks are the best team in the league.
He “Greek Freak” 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 doesn’t shoot well, he leaves his mark on the game.
And really, when you strip everything else away and look at the basic questions of “who is the best player in the world?” or “who is the opponent you don’t want to face in the playoffs?”, Antetokounmpo seems to be the right 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 away from Jokic and Embiid and his free throw percentage has dropped to 64.7%.
Antetokounmpo is critical to Milwaukee’s defensive success, but he’s in an ideal situation with Jrue Holiday and Jevon Carter bothering opposing guards and Brooke Lopez annoying shots all over the field. Once again, we shouldn’t punish a player for having good or bad teammates. However, when differentiating them, it is necessary to take them into account the amount of liability at each end.
There is also a notable little difference between Antetokounmpo and his competitors. He has played a total of 1,844 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 views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
