Who is the Real MVP?
With the NBA season heading into its final chapter, it’s time to reflect on one of its most important storylines, who is the league’s most valuable player this season.
So many big-name players have been injured this season and have missed a significant amount of games that it’s hard to determine who is even worthy of the award in this shortened season. Guys like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis have all missed a good portion of the season due to one injury or another.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are both dealing with injuries for the Lakers. (via Sports Illustrated)
To be quite frank the narrative around the MVP discussion has quieted down a bit as of late, as you haven’t seen many talk shows even mention the award or the candidates. With the 2020-2021 season hitting the home stretch it’s hard to tell who might take the award home this year.
As of April 13, Nikola Jokic is leading the MVP race with -195 odds, according to Fan Duel followed by Joel Embiid and reigning two-time champ Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the season-ending injury to Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Jokic’s chances may have improved as he is the favorite to win the award even though he is not the sexiest of choices.
The Joker does have a lot in his favor when it comes to the award as he has been the only candidate that hasn’t missed significant time, as he has played in all of the Nuggets’ games so far this season.
Not only that but Jokic is almost averaging a triple-double as a center in the NBA with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists having his team sitting as the fourth seed in the West.
James Harden of the Nets (left) and Joel Embiid of the 76ers (right). (Getty Images)
Most would have said his big man counterpart in the east, Joel Embiid, was the clear favorite before he went down with injury but it seems the potential for him to win has died down significantly. Following his injury, it looked like a prime opportunity for LeBron to take that trophy home this year after it alluded him for the past eight seasons. James, unfortunately, had an injury of his own with a high ankle which has kept him sidelined for weeks alongside Anthony Davis.
James Harden was another person who was in the talks for MVP as he took the Brooklyn Nets to a whole new level once he arrived in town. Even though he has been great, it was always a knock on his campaign that he left the Houston Rockets organization midseason for an already stacked Nets team and the way he left also played a factor.
This year has had so many twists and turns in this shorted pandemic-ridden campaign as many of your favorite stars haven’t been able to perform the way that we have been used to considering all that is still going on in the outside world. One thing is for sure, time will tell who eventually captures the coveted award this season, but in the end, you could say many players could make a claim that they are the most valuable in the league.