As the NBA playoffs inch closer, the race for the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is heating up. This year’s Kia MVP Ladder has seen some dominating performances from top-tier players, each jockeying for position in the highly competitive rankings. However, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has recently surged ahead, edging out Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid for the coveted No. 1 spot. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into Jokic’s impressive season and examine how he has managed to top one of the most talented fields in recent memory.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic could become a three-time Kia MVP winner this season, putting him alongside elite company. Despite nursing a calf injury in the final games of the regular season, Jokic finished as the only player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists while shooting over 60 percent in a single campaign. He also topped the leaderboard for a series of advanced metrics, including field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, and true shooting. Jokic also won this writer’s official MVP vote for the third straight year, beating out other worthy candidates such as Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite Embiid’s strong push late in the season, he finishes second on the official ballot, followed by Antetokounmpo in third and Jayson Tatum in fourth. Embiid, who missed 16 games due to injuries, became the only player since Bill Walton in 1977-78 to win the MVP without playing at least 70 contests. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a league-leading 58 victories in the regular season while carrying the team in the absence of Khris Middleton.
Regardless of the Kia MVP race outcome, Jokic plans to lead the Nuggets in the playoffs. The team enters fully healthy for the first time since the 2020-21 season and seeks to prove they are a dominant force.
As the 2020-21 NBA regular season draws to a close, the Kia MVP Ladder is tighter than ever. Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have been neck-and-neck for the No. 1 spot for weeks, but with a strong finish, Jokic ultimately edged out Embiid. Both players have had incredible seasons and have solidified themselves as two of the best players in the league. As the playoffs approach, all eyes will be on Jokic and Embiid as they look to lead their teams to championship glory. It’s been a thrilling ride watching these two MVP candidates compete at such a high level and it’s clear that the race for this year’s most valuable player will be one for the ages.
