NBA: Nikola Jokic leads three-way race for MVP gong

Nikola Jokic has now surpassed Joel Embiid as the favorite to win the NBA MVP this season. Embiid had led the majority of the year, but as time has gone on Jokic has slowly crept ahead of him.

It seems like the MVP conversation is really down to three players, and with only a couple of games left, they don’t have much time to strengthen their cases.

2022 NBA MVP betting odds

• Nikola Jokic -250
• Joel Embiid +200
• Giannis Antetokounmpo +700

See more NBA MVP odds at Bovada

Nikola Jokic

The reigning MVP is now the favorite, go figure. Jokic and the Nuggets are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 47-33 record. Their seeding does not necessarily provide an accurate representation of the performance that they have given this season. The Nuggets just happen to share the conference with the Phoenix Suns, the Golden State Warriors, and the Memphis Grizzlies. The West is as good as ever, but it seems like the Nuggets have fallen by the wayside in terms of remaining in the discussion among the top teams in the West.

If Jokic is your MVP pick, not many people could argue. Jokic has been just as good if not better than last year. Unlike the others in the conversation, Jokic is a lethal passer. He is averaging almost eight assists per game with a Nuggets team that has been missing some of their best weapons for the majority of the regular season. On top of that, he is averaging nearly 10 points more than his career average per game at 27 PPG and has only missed seven games all season long.

The stats don’t lie, Jokic has been phenomenal this season, but it is really all about what you consider the definition of the term “Most Valuable Player”.

Joel Embiid

If you’re making a case for someone that has meant everything and more to their team, Embiid is your guy. Embiid had the Sixers a game out of first place heading into the NBA All-Star break. Not a single person would have pegged the Sixers to have a chance at first place amid an ugly divorce with Ben Simmons. Not only did Embiid carry the Sixers on the court, he carried them in the locker room, which should really weigh into this discussion.

Beyond the locker room, Embiid has put together the best season of his career. He is on pace to set career highs in games played, points per game, total rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, three point percentage, and so much more. Embiid is definitely in the midst of his prime and has put together an MVP-caliber season, somehow better than last season.

The Sixers are currently tied with the Bucks and Celtics for second place in the East. First place may be out of the question at this point, but the Sixers have as good of a shot as any in the Eastern Conference.

While the Sixers have talent on the offensive side of the ball like James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, it’s Embiid who holds the team together night after night. Players on the Sixers continue to speak about the man and the leader that Embiid has become after entering the league an unfinished product. Embiid has put it all together and definitely deserves to win the MVP this season.

He’s currently the leading scorer in the entire NBA, but aside from all that he has become the heart and soul of the 76ers. The leadership that Embiid has displayed by holding a broken Sixers team together this season gives him the edge over Jokic in our book. At around +200 with most sports betting sites, Embiid is a great bet.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Unfortunately, Giannis has entered this discussion a little too late. He is perhaps the best player in the league but hasn’t done enough to pass Jokic or Embiid. The defending-champion Bucks and Giannis have turned it on in the final part of the regular season, as they find themselves just two-and-a-half games out of first place after a pretty average start to the year. The Bucks are a proven commodity and for as long as they’re contenders, Giannis’ name will always be in this discussion. He might not win MVP, but the Bucks have a great shot to repeat as Eastern Conference champions and maybe even league champions yet again.

Who knows, maybe he can win the NBA Finals MVP instead…

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