Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid Highlight Projected Favorites To Win 2022-23 NBA MVP

The MVP award changes legacies and gives players the clout they need for when they make the Basketball Hall of Fame. Every MVP (that has been eligible) has made the promise land once they won the hardware. For the players below it is unlikely to be the ticket they need to cash in to make it to Springfield, but it is a huge counting point when discussing them among the game’s best as time moves on.

Here is the case for each of the following players to win MVP this season and the current betting odds for winning the award:

Luka Doncic +450

The 23-year-old superstar has owned the playoffs over the past three seasons. He is averaging 32.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists over the past 28 playoff games that he has participated in. He’s posted those numbers shouldering a ridiculous 40 usage rating and efficiently getting those numbers with a 58 true shooting percentage.

The narrative might be available for Doncic to win it this season. The Mavericks don’t have a true number two star, which allows Doncic to be the sun in the heliocentric offense. The compilation of stats and the raging success of the team last season gives Doncic a pathway to securing his first MVP. That is, if he can avoid the early season sluggishness that plagued him last year.

Joel Embiid +450

Embiid was an incredibly deserving winner each of the past two seasons, but just didn’t have the overwhelming production to topple “the Joker”. This year could be different, though.

The Philadelphia 76ers look primed to make a serious run to the NBA Finals after acquiring P.J. Tucker, Danuel House and De’Anthony Melton this past offseason. The additions give the 76ers the talent needed to make an attempt at capturing the top spot in the Eastern Conference, which is a huge talking point when sifting through valid candidates.

The resume speaks for itself with Embiid. He was the first center to win the scoring title since Shaquille O’Neal did it in 2000 and continues to be an absolutely indomitable intimidator on defense. It might be his turn to finally shine after back-to-back seasons in which he has placed 2nd in the vote.

Giannis Antetokounmpo +500

A case could be made that Antetokounmpo was the most deserving of the players that received MVP votes last season. He has truly become the best player in the league and cemented that standing with a playoff series against the Boston Celtics that was one for the ages. He averaged 34 points, 14.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists without Khris Middleton– coming within a game of taking down the powerful Boston Celtics.

The Bucks will likely have to dominate the other teams in the east in order to help Giannis capture his 3rd MVP and he’ll absolutely need to repeat his numbers from this past season. The relentless attacking of the basket, the turbo charged transition numbers, the long armed dominance on defense and the budding mid range game all need to be a part of the package in order for the Greek star to nab the hardware.

Nikola Jokic +1000

It’s hard to have a list of potential MVP favorites and not include the player that just won the past two awards. Jokic compiled advanced stats that blew the competition out of the water last season. He led the league in win shares, player efficiency rating, box plus/minus, value over replacement player, RAPTOR, and real plus minus. On top of all of that he shellacked the competition with 27 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game on a crisp 66.1 true shooting percentage.

The stats were eye-popping, but the narrative was also in his favor. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. being out for all/most of the season gave Jokic the opportunity to play the role of superman and carry the team to success. This season the same narrative could work in the inverse: what if the Denver Nuggets now become a juggernaut? That question allows some room for Jokic to repeat as a three-time champ– the first time a player has done that since Larry Bird.

Kevin Durant +1200

Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the NBA.

This is known by everyone at this point, but it’s important to reiterate after the offseason drama that has involved both him and the Brooklyn Nets.

The landing spot for Durant ultimately will play a large part in where he falls in the MVP pecking order. Just last season he had an excellent case to win the award before he went down in January with a sprained MCL. At that point, he was leading the NBA in scoring and had the Nets on track to win 55 games. Everything fell apart after the injury, but it showed that Durant still possesses the ability to be a mainstay in the conversation. Him being the focal point on a championship contending team can be the story that helps earn him his second MVP award.