As the NBA regular season wraps up and the playoffs approach, fans anticipate thrilling matchups and the forthcoming announcement of end-of-season awards.
The spotlight, as usual, is on the Most Valuable Player award. The competition for MVP this season has been notably distinctive and intense, with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets emerging as the frontrunner for clinching the award for the third time.
NBACentral reports that the latest rankings on NBA.com’s MVP ladder place Jokic at the top, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder as his closest competitor.
Following them in the rankings are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic, sharing the third spot, with Jayson Tatum also in contention.
The list also features Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings, Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, among others.
Presently, the competition appears to be primarily between Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers was previously seen as a strong candidate for consecutive MVP titles until an injury took him out of contention due to not meeting the NBA’s 65-game requirement for this season.
With Embiid out, Jokic’s probability of winning seemed to rise. While Jokic is the likely winner, the conclusion of the season could still bring surprises.
Regardless of the outcome, Gilgeous-Alexander has achieved commendable success this season, averaging 30.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, turning his team into serious playoff contenders after a period of challenges.
While Jokic is positioned to win this year, Gilgeous-Alexander and other contenders on the list show promise for future seasons.
