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NBA MVP race 2023-24: Nikola Jokic regains MVP throne from SGA
By Andrew Buller-Russ,
2023-12-28
We know who won the 2023 NBA MVP, but now we’re looking ahead to this season’s candidates to win The Michael Jordan Trophy. After coming so close to winning the MVP award in seasons past, Joel Embiid finally won his first trophy a year ago. But now after the Philadelphia 76ers superstar won’t meet the 65 games played threshold, he’s no longer on track to become the 15th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs.
Now it’s more possible previous winners like Giannis Antetokounmpo and defending champion Nikola Jokic can get in the way. Not to mention the several other high-level athletes that could take the next step in their careers, such as Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, or Anthony Edwards.
While there are many games to go, here are our early frontrunners to vie for The Michael Jordan Trophy , otherwise known as the MVP award, in 2024.
Kevin Durant stats : 28.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 52% FG, 1.3 BPG, 22.4 PER
Not only is Kevin Durant one of the most efficient scorers of our generation, he’s also extremely underrated on defense, averaging 2.2 ‘stocks’ per game. While he’s leading a very good Phoenix Suns team in scoring, KD doesn’t have a chance to catch up to his fellow MVP candidates.
Anthony Davis stats : 24.7 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.4 BPG, 55% FG, 26% 3PT, 25.5 PER
Durability has always been the biggest knock on ‘The Brow’s game, but he’s missed just four games this season. His numbers are outstanding, as usual, but it hasn’t led to more wins for the Lakers besides the In-Season Tournament. Davis’s overall body of work makes him a fringe MVP candidate, but he has no shot at catching up to first place.
Despite being in his fourth season, somehow Haliburton continues to improve his game each year. He’s once again up to career-highs in points while also leading the NBA in assists per game. Not only is Haliburton playing at an All-NBA level, but he has the Pacers in playoff contention for the first time since 2020. He may not be a frontrunner, but with Haliburton’s efficiency and high assist rate, you can’t have a list of NBA MVP candidates without mentioning Indiana’s star player . Yet, he’s also been struggling since Jan. 5 and has averaged just 15.4 PPG and 9.8 APG ever since.
7. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (LW: 6)
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Edwards stats : 26.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 46% FG, 37% 3PT, 19.7 PER
The Minnesota Timberw o lves are one of the best teams in the Western Conference. How could one of the NBA’s best not have an MVP candidate? While Rudy Gobert’s resurgence and the return of Karl-Anthony Towns (before his injury) have been huge, Anthony Edwards deserves a larger part of the credit for the Wolves’ success. As the team leader, Edwards merits a spot on any list of NBA MVP candidates, but can he become more consistent and avoid turnovers? That’s the only thing holding Edwards back.
Jayson Tatum is elite on both ends of the floor, yet he still hasn’t been able to permanently stamp his name into the MVP conversation. However, if Tatum can continue averaging nearly 30 points per game while providing excellent defense, there’s no reason he can’t add some hardware to his trophy case in the near future. Tatum is having his most efficient season yet, but new additions to the roster have also led to a slight reduction in shots taken for the two-way superstar.
When the Sacramento Kings opted to part with Tyrese Haliburton, they wound up getting an All-NBA big in return. While he may not be on Jokic’s level as a passer, Domantas Sabonis is the NBA’s leading rebounder for the second year in a row. Yet, he’s also shooting a ridiculous 42% from 3-point range. Few players are as skilled as Sacramento’s smooth-shooting All-Star, and it’s no surprise to see Sabonis become an outside MVP candidate.
Luka Dončić stats : 34.3 PPG, 9 RPG, 9.8 APG, 49% FG, 37% 3PT, 28.7 PER
We all know what Luka Dončić is capable of on a nightly basis. Against Utah, he needed just one half to tally a triple-double. Then, against Atlanta, Doncic scored 73 points . Jokic showed you could win MVPs without being a top defender, which should open the door for Doncic, too. Yet, he has a tough road ahead with dominant do-it-all bigs like Jokic and Antetokounmpo in front of him. It’s hard to imagine Doncic becoming the leading candidate this year, but leading the NBA in scoring will keep him in the race.
We’ve seen enormous growth from Giannis Antetokounmpo since he entered the league as the 15th overall pick in 2013. Sure, he’ll never be Steph Curry from a distance, and his shooting is certainly an area that could be improved, yet he can still score 64 points on a single night. After hitting just 64.5% of his shots from the free throw line last season, if Antetokounmpo could return to the 77% rate we saw in 2017, his MVP candidacy would receive a huge boost. Either way, the Greek Freak ranks third in PPG, sixth in RPG, and has the Bucks on track for a top seed in the East.
A season ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder were a fringe contender thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s development into an All-NBA talent. Now, he’s become one of basketball’s most efficient scoring threats, and the Thunder are one of the best teams in the West. But it’s not just on offense. Gilgeous-Alexander’s a complete player who brings the intensity on defense too, and currently leads the NBA in steals. With SGA becoming a legit MVP candidate, the Thunder’s decision to trade Paul George continues to look better and better.
Nikola Jokić stats : 26 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 9.2 APG, 58% FG, 34% 3PT, 31.2 PER
No one puts up numbers like Nikola Jokic does. He may not be the league’s top scorer, but Jokic is an incredibly efficient player who somehow came close to averaging a triple-double last season and is doing so again. Of course, Jokic is a top 2024 NBA MVP candidate, ranking among league leaders in total rebounds. With Denver on pace for one of the NBA’s best records, expect Jokic to be an MVP finalist, but he’ll have to hold off a surging SGA.
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