The race for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award is heating up as we approach the end of the season. And the latest Kia MVP Ladder has Joel Embiid back in the top spot, after briefly being overtaken by Nikola Jokic. But with several weeks left in the regular season, nothing is “over” yet. Let’s take a closer look at how the top contenders are stacking up and what could change as we head toward the playoffs.
The race for the 2022-23 Kia MVP award is heating up with just a few games left in the regular season. Joel Embiid’s outstanding performance this week, in which he scored 52 points against the Boston Celtics, has put him ahead in the race. However, the competition is still fierce, and the final decisions are in the hands of a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.
Although Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers boldly claimed that the MVP race is over, the panel’s decision is yet to be made. While Embiid may be leading the pack now, nothing can be certain until the final votes are cast on Monday. Reigning back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic has fallen back to No. 2 due to missing four of his team’s last five games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is holding steady at No. 3, while Jayson Tatum and Domantas Sabonis hold their spots at fourth and fifth. Although Embiid has produced three 50-point games this season, the question remains whether he has played in enough games to receive the award. Bill Walton is the only player to win the award playing in less than 71 games in a full 82-game season, and even if Embiid plays in the last two games of the season, he will be at 68 games played.
As the MVP debate continues, statistics from the top five candidates are analyzed in detail in the Kia MVP Tracker. The top five candidates include Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Domantas Sabonis. With the race for the MVP award so tight, the final decision is sure to be made after much handwringing and agonizing from the panel of sports journalists and broadcasters.
In conclusion, Joel Embiid has regained the top spot in the Kia MVP Ladder, but the race is far from over. With several players vying for the coveted award, the remainder of the season promises to be an exciting one. As we approach the playoffs, it will be interesting to see which player continues to elevate their game and solidify their case for MVP. Until then, we can enjoy watching the league’s top stars battle it out on the court.
