Ranking the biggest threats to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s third MVP award

Biggest threats to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s third MVP – #2: Joel Embiid

There is a WIDE gap between the two biggest threats to Antetokounmpo winning MVP and all of the others I already discussed. It’s a three-horse race as we approach the trade deadline and one of those horses is Joel Embiid.

I have to be honest, the only word to describe what Embiid’s been doing lately is silly. It’s just silly how good he’s been since the beginning of December and there’s a strong case to be made that he’s the leading candidate for MVP at this point.

On the season, he’s averaging 29.1 points on 61.2 percent true shooting, 10.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and nearly a steal per game. In 27 games since the beginning of December, Embiid is averaging 31.7 points on 63 percent, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.4 blocks.

He’s had 19 games with 30 or more points in that stretch, including five games of 40 points or more (and a 50 burger tossed in there for good measure). He’s almost single-handedly willed the Sixers into a top-three seed in the East with his offense and his game-changing defense.

He was oh-so-close to winning MVP last season due to injuries and he’s right at the top of the race once again. Please don’t waste this wild season he’s having, Darryl Morey.

Biggest threats to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s third MVP – #1: Nikola Jokic

If it was at all possible to top what Nikola Jokic did last season, we’re seeing him try his very best this year. He’s without his two co-stars and it hasn’t mattered a single bit, keeping the Denver Nuggets above the play-in with some outrageous games. He’s taken on more responsibility at both ends and he may end up going back-to-back because of it.

The reigning regular-season MVP had one of the best seasons of any MVP and you can make the case he’s been even better. In 45 games, Jokic is averaging 25.9 points on 65.6 percent true shooting, 13.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.4 steals. The true shooting, rebounds, and steals are all better than last season and he’s within a half-point of his points and assists per game averages last season! In over a minute fewer per game! It’s nonsense how good he’s been.

All of the advanced numbers love Jokic as well, leading in stats like win shares, box plus/minus, value over replacement player (VORP), and RAPTOR. That’s largely due to his monstrous offensive stats, but he’s made real strides as a defender after making strides last season as well. The narrative around his defense not being very good needs to go away.

He’s my leader for MVP (sorry, Giannis!), but there’s still a lot of the season left and there’s a chance any of these guys can make a push for MVP. They’re simply all trailing Jokic at the moment.

Apologies to Chris Paul (my all-time favorite player) and Devin Booker, but they aren’t on the level of the guys listed and aren’t really a threat to Antetokounmpo.