NBA MVP Watch: Mar. 23

Story posted March 23, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Timothy Lonas

With 10 games left for most teams, there’s still not a clear-cut favorite by most NBA fans on who should receive the MVP award.

The NBA MVP ladder has Nikola Jokic in first with Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant and Luka Doncic.

Jokic is averaging 26.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.4 steals a game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from deep. His 13.6 rebounds are second to only Rudy Gobert’s 14.5.

Without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. playing nine games, the Denver Nuggets are sixth in the western conference at 43-30.

Without Jokic, the team is 2-5 while scoring 105.0 points a game. In 66 games that Jokic has played, the Nuggets are 41-25 and have scored 112.2 points a game.

In 58 games, Embiid has averaged a second-best 29.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 blocks, and one steal a game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 36 percent from three. The 29.8 points and 4.3 assists are currently career highs.

After the trade for James Harden, Embiid’s numbers were expected to dip. However, that has not been the case and the Philadelphia 76ers have been winning more. The 76ers are second in the eastern conference at 45-27. The team is 40-19 in games Embiid has played in.

Antetokoumpo is averaging a league-leading 29.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks a game while shooting 55 percent from the field. His 29.6 points are .1 higher than his 2020 MVP season.

The Milwaukee Bucks are third in the eastern conference at 45-27. The team is 40-21 in games Antetokoumpo has played.

One of the biggest surprises in the MVP race this year has been fourth-place candidate Ja Morant.

Morant was coming off a 2020-21 season where he averaged 19.1 points, four rebounds, and 7.4 assists on 44.9 percent shooting from the field and 30.3 percent from three. This season, he has elevated his averages to 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.2 steal a game on 49.3 percent from the field and 34 percent from three.

Morant’s points per game, rebounds per game, steals per game, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage all improved from last season. His play has helped the Memphis Grizzlies to the second seed in the western conference at 50-23.

What hurts his MVP case is that the team is 15-2 when he has been off the court.

The fifth-place candidate, Doncic, had a slow start to the season, but has bounced back and is now averaging 27.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.2 steals a game on 45.3% shooting from the field and 34.4 percent from three. Doncic does lead the league in turnovers with 4.6, but he also has the second-highest usage rate at 36.5.

The Mavericks are closing in on its most wins since the 2014-15 season with a record of 45-28. That puts them at fifth in the western conference and tied with the Utah Jazz for the fourth seed.

Timothy Lonas is a third-year majoring in digital/print journalism. To contact him, email tpl5336@psu.edu.