Who will win the 2023/24 NBA MVP award?
by Joseph King | by Joseph King
Jokic is the clear frontrunner
After winning the MVP in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, there was a large contingent of NBA fans that thought Nikola Jokic deserved his third straight last year. Truth be told, they had a point. ‘Voter fatigue’ was referenced as one of the primary adverse factors. History shows that the voters often have a hard time awarding a player three straight MVPs. It’s happened to Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo among others. In fact, the last player to win three consecutive MVP awards was Larry Bird in 1986.
Despite Jokic dropping in points per game last season, his shooting percentage and three-point percentage rose significantly. He was also 0.2 assists away from averaging a triple-double on the season as a center -- let that sink in. To top it all off, his Nuggets team finished with the best record in the West.
This time around, Jokic is averaging a career high in points per game (27.2), a career high in rebounds per game (12.7) and his second highest assist mark per game at 9.4. Denver is second in the conference with a 17-9 record, making the Serbian basketball savant the current MVP favorite. Follow along with all of Nikola Jokic's games by using SportyTrader's NBA Livescore page!
Bet on the NBA MVP at bet365!Luka Doncic’s phenomenal year
It’s looking like it could finally be the year that Slovenian phenom Luka Doncic wins his first MVP after entering the previous three seasons as the favorite for the award. He’s putting up jaw-dropping numbers while his Mavericks team is getting results on the court. Dallas is fourth in the standings with a 15-9 record with Luka averaging the second-most points in the league at 32.3. Doncic has been on a tear recently, putting up 35.8 points per game, 12.5 assists and 8.5 rebounds over his last six games. The 24-year-old credited his improved form this season to his trainer and new diet, stating that he feels he is in the best physical shape of his career.
The question of whether or not Luka is able to capture the elusive MVP award will likely come down to his team’s overall performance. Should the Mavs secure a top three seed, possibly top four, then he’ll have an excellent shot. The Mavericks have looked good to start the year and will certainly need Kyrie Irving to stay healthy if they are going to reach their potential. Irving has missed the last three games and is expected to be out for a little while longer.
Click here to claim your welcome bonus!Reigning MVP not to be counted out
Embiid has put up silly numbers in his last few outings. After dropping 50 on December 6, Embiid would respond by scoring 34, 38, 41 and 35 in the following four games, all while grabbing 11+ rebounds in each contest.
The Philly big man has clearly worked on his passing and playmaking in the offseason, perhaps in response to all the accolades and plaudits that Jokic receives for his passing. Embiid is now averaging a career high in assists at 6.6 per game and has already posted two triple doubles this season (as well as being one assist away from a third).
Embiid continues to be the most dominant inside force in the game. The 29-year-old has somehow managed to improve upon last season’s scoring mark which saw him lead the league in points per game. Embiid is once again the PPG leader in this campaign, dropping an average of 33.8 per game on 52.1% shooting from the field.
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Other possible dark horses
Giannis Antetokounmpo
It’s strange to call two-time MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo a dark horse. His recent performances may have just thrust his name back into the conversation. The Greek Freak dropped a career-high 64 points on 20 for 28 shooting against the Pacers on December 13. It marked his fifth straight game with 30+ points as he has now raised his seasonal points per game total to 32.0, good for third best in the league. It’s Giannis’ efficiency that may ultimately set him apart should he be able to keep this pace up. The 2021 NBA champion is shooting an almost unbelievable 62.3% from the field despite his three-point percentage dropping to a nine year low 22.5%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Thunders combo guard has seen a dramatic leap forward in his game and made the jump to 30+ point per game scorer last season. He’s also become a legitimate MVP candidate especially now that OKC looks to be a serious threat in the Western Conference. Averaging 31.0 points per game on 54.6% shooting from the field, a career high 6.4 assists and leading the league in steals with 2.7 per game (nearly a full 1.0 higher than second place) SGA is certainly a contender should the Thunder continue to win.
Our Prediction
The NBA MVP is always tough to call, even more so now with the player participation rules stipulating that all players must play at least 65 games to be eligible. It’s tough to pick against Jokic given his transcendent play at the center position, coming off a championship and a Finals MVP, and the fact that his Nuggets team continue to perform.
However, his short price means it’s tough to find value in backing the Nuggets big man. Instead, we believe Luka presents good bang for your buck at his current price. If his Mavs can secure a top three seed in the West and he stays healthy, there’s a good chance he’ll win his long-awaited first MVP award. Head over to SportyTrader's NBA betting tips page to see the latest analysis from our experts. All season long and completely free of charge!
Betting Odds
- Nikola Jokic - 3.00
- Luka Doncic - 4.75
- Joel Embiid - 7.00
- Giannis Antetokounmpo - 9.00
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 9.50
Keep on top of the latest odds by checking out our NBA betting odds page.
Odds found on bet365
