NBA MVP Watch
With the end of the NBA regular season rapidly approaching, the NBA’s finest are making a push at the MVP Award, the highest regular season, individual honor a player can earn.
Injuries to key stars have completely derailed the campaigns of some prominent players vying for this award. With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Steph Curry and plenty of others missing significant time, this season’s MVP race is one of the most exciting in NBA history.
Additionally, with the rise of “super teams” – the Nets and the Lakers particularly – the entire dynamic of the term most valuable shifts entirely.
Nikola Jokic remains the favorite for the award. The 6-foot-11-inch center from Serbia is leading the Denver Nuggets in points, rebounds and assists, and he is the catalyst for the entire Nuggets’ roster.
While it’s currently Jokic’s race to lose, there are plenty of playmakers looking to etch their names into the record books.
Here are three of the top candidates for the NBA MVP Award that could edge out Jokic for the award:
Joel Embiid: Center, Philadelphia 76ers
It wasn’t too long ago we all thought Embiid was going to run away with the award, and he could steal the top spot back if he continues his impressive play. The 7-foot center is averaging 29.6 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Embiid’s skillset allows him to score from the post and the 3-point line, while also knocking down mid-range shots. He sucks in opposing defenders, and he forces multiple players to stop him.
In his fifth season playing, Embiid has improved his ability to generate steals and force turnovers, and he’s also cut his fouls and turnovers per game down the lowest of his career.
Embiid continues to take steps forward as a player, and if he is able to improve just enough, he may be able to nudge out Jokic for this high honor.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Forward, Milwaukee Bucks
Antetokounmpo is the two-time defending NBA MVP Award winner, and there’s a good chance he could end this season having won a third.
“The Greek Freak” is terrorizing opponents by his ability to dominate almost every statistical category. Antetokounmpo averages 28.8 points and 11.4 points per game, and he also racks up steals, assists and blocks.
With the fifth highest PER in the NBA (24.98), Antetokounmpo continues to show why he is one of the most important players in the NBA. Antetokounmpo quickly gets downhill, and he uses his length to punish the rim with ferocious dunks.
Antetokounmpo has some work to do if he wants to defend his award yet again, but he’s definitely one of the current top candidates for the honor.
Damian Lillard: Guard, Portland Trailblazers
You don’t have to check your watch; trust me, it’s “Dame time.”
Lillard has the incredible ability to score basically any way he wants, and he is able to get his shots with ease.
The 6-foot-2-inch point guard is averaging 28.7 points per game while dishing out 7.6 assists per game.
As we saw in the NBA All-Star Game, Lillard can shoot from almost half court and still be consistent, and his range is seemingly limitless.
Lillard is an elite shooter that crushes opposing defenses with his ability to knock down clutch shots from anywhere on the court.
While Lillard is definitely an outside candidate for the NBA’s MVP Award, he is definitely a worthy option that deserves more attention and accolades than he gets.
Eric Fenstermaker is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at esf5129@psu.edu.
