Nikola Jokic is currently leading the MVP race and can be found at most of the top-rated sportsbooks to win the award at around -300. Can Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid catch up before the season concludes?
Currently, Jokic is about a -300, depending on where you look, to win the MVP Award. Joel Embiid is sitting at around +250 with Giannis Antetokounmpo holding a +550 number.
Those are the only three guys that can win the race at this point but ultimately, it looks like Jokic has the award locked up.
Jokic is only averaging 26.8 points per game this season, which is 9th best in the league. However, he’s also earning 13.7 rebounds per game and eight assists per game, as a center. Currently, his PER is 32.98 and that leads the NBA.
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What most people tend to forget about Jokic is that he’s leading the Nuggets into the playoffs without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. He doesn’t have a star around him. Instead, the Nuggets have fielded a lineup of Monte Morris, Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, and JaMychal Green.
Yet, the Nuggets are 47-32 and sitting in the middle of the West standings.
Embiid, on the other hand, has the 76ers at 48-30, which is really good but he does have more talent around him. I wouldn’t say that hurts his chances at winning the award, but when we think of the true meaning of the MVP, Jokic has him beat in the sense that if the Nuggets didn’t have Jokic, Denver would have the first pick of the draft. The Sixers would still win games without Embiid here and there.
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Embiid is averaging 30.2 points per game with 11.6 rebounds per game. He’s having a ridiculous season and has a PER of 31.26. Ultimately, the 76ers have other value players like Tyrese Maxey and now James Harden who can step up in Embiid’s absence. However, Embiid does deserve some credit for having success while Ben Simmons was not playing.
Lastly, Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t win the award but he has the Bucks in great shape to win a bigger prize, which is the NBA Championship. Out of all three of these contenders, the Milwaukee Bucks seem like they’re in the best position to actually win a title. Antetokounmpo is scoring 30.1 points per game with 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He also has a PER of 32.28.
The Bucks also have 48 wins and 30 losses but Giannis hasn’t really had to carry the Bucks. Jrue Holiday has had his moments this season along with Khris Middleton. With Brook Lopez back in the mix, the Bucks are dangerous. That’s likely why Jokic is getting over Antetokounmpo and Embiid at this point.