NBA MVP Watch: Feb. 3

Story posted February 3, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Patrick Lepre

As the All-Star weekend quickly approaches, the MVP race is about as close as it has been all season.

Let’s take a look at the top candidates up to this point.

Nikola Jokic

Jokic has been playing at an all-time level despite the Nuggets being littered with injuries. He is single-handedly keeping the Nuggets afloat in the playoff race.

Jokic has been extremely efficient all-season averaging 25.9 points per game, 13.8 rebounds per game and 7.8 assists per game, all while shooting 57.2% from the field. Jokic also won Western Conference player of the month in January.

It’s really hard to argue against Jokic being the frontrunner right now.

Joel Embiid

Another center that is playing out of their mind is Joel Embiid. Embiid was also just named player of the month for the Eastern Conference.

Embiid is averaging 29.1 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game, 4.4 assist per game while shooting 49.5% from the field.

Embiid also had a 50 point game in 27 minutes against the Orlando Magic in recent weeks. Right now it seems like a two-man race for MVP between both Embiid and Jokic.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

It wouldn’t be an MVP race without Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name at least being mentioned.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game and 6 assists peg game. He has been by far the most consistent out of Milwaukee’s big 3, which shouldn’t come as a shock.

Antetokounmpo can get almost anything he wants in the paint and is as dominant as ever. If he can get the Bucks to pull away with the 1 or 2 seed his chances for MVP would skyrocket.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul has the Suns at 41-10, the best record in the entire league. Paul is averaging 14.9 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game and 10.5 assists per game, and has racked up the most assists in the entire league to this point with 521.

While his stats aren’t as flashy as the CP3 of old, Paul has been one of the most clutch players if not the most. He ranks first in assists, first in steals, second in plus/minus and 7th in points.

Quietly at the age of 36, Chris Paul definitely has a case for MVP.

Stephen Curry

For the first two months, it seemed like a write-in for Curry to win the MVP award. However, Curry is shooting under 40% from 3 for the first time ever in his career at 37.9%.

For everyone else, 37.9% is not bad but Curry is the greatest shooter of all-time, so we would expect better. He still is averaging 26 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 6.3 assists per game.

All it is going to take is for Curry to catch fire again and he will fly right back to the top of the MVP race, but that is something we will just have to wait and see.


Patrick Lepre is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email pjl5466@psu.edu.

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