NBA MVP Watch: Joel Embiid Seeks His First
The NBA season is in full swing and we have seen some outstanding performances this season. Players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry and so many more have all been dominant this season. Let's take a deeper dive into the MVP race.
1. Lebron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers
The King is 36, in year 18 of his career and arguably playing the best basketball of his career.
Last season James led his team to an NBA championship and this season the Lakers seem destined to repeat. On the season he has averages of 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists all while leading the Lakers to 19 wins and just six losses.
James is on a mission to become the goat and his play this year indicates that. If he keeps this up he will be adding a fifth MVP to his trophy case.
2. Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets
After sustaining a gruesome achilles tear in 2019 and missing the entire 2020 season, nobody knew what to expect from Kevin Durant.
Durant has not missed a beat this season putting up 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists a night. Despite the acquisition of star guard James Harden, Durant has still been playing excellent.
The Nets sit at third in the eastern conference with a record of 14-12. Durant will still continue to put up great numbers even with Harden on the squad and look for him to capture another MVP.
3. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid is doing the one thing he has not done so far in his young career; staying healthy.
Embiid has missed just five of the teams 25 and that is great for a guy who has missed significant time every season of his career.
Embiid is putting up numbers of 29 points, 11 rebounds, three assists a block and a steal per game. He even has great efficiency as he is shooting 54 percent from the field and 37 percent from three.
Embiid has the 76ers sitting atop the Eastern Conference with 18 wins and seven losses. Embiid will look to continue to stay healthy and try to take home his first MVP award.
4. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
Despite his team having a record of 12-11, Nikola Jokic has been playing lights out basketball this season. If his team had a better record, Jokic would definitely be higher on the list.
On the season, Jokic has averages of 28 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and two steals per game. Jokic is just the fourth player in NBA history to put up 500-plus points and register 200-plus rebounds to go with 150 or more assists through his first 20 games of a season.
5. Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors
Just like his former teammate in Kevin Durant, many people did not know what to expect from Stephen Curry this season as he was coming back from a broken hand.
Curry is back to his usual dominant self despite the Warriors being inconsistent and sitting at eighth in the Western Conference with a record of 13-12. Curry has been fantastic averaging 30 points, five rebounds and six assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from three.
Curry has scored over 55 points twice this season and he set a new career high with 62 points against the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this season.
Honorable Mentions:
Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers
Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks
Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards
Luka Doncic, G, Dallas Mavericks
Julius Randle, F, New York Knicks
Alex Rocco is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email afr5646@psu.edu.
