As the NBA playoffs roll on, the 2023-24 NBA MVP is expected to be announced soon. This season’s finalists are Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
After Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid won the award last year, Jokic is the favorite this time.
If Jokic does win, it would be his third MVP in four seasons. Already with one Finals MVP under his belt, Jokic could join some historic company if he leads the Nuggets to another title. Only five players have earned three regular-season MVPs and two Finals MVPs: Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and LeBron James.
Doncic led the NBA with 33.9 points per game and ranked second in assists per game. He is the third player to average a 30-point triple-double after the All-Star Break in NBA history, joining Oscar Robertson (1961-62) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17). Doncic would join Dirk Nowitzki (2006-07) as only players to win MVP in Mavericks history.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished third in the league with 30.1 PPG — behind Doncic and Milwaukee Bucks‘ Giannis Antetokounmpo — in leading the Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. He had a league-high 51 30-point games this season and would be the team’s third MVP since its 2008 relocation from Seattle — joining Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Westbrook (2016-17).
ESPN senior Zach Lowe explained last month why Jokic is this season’s pick, while NBA reporter Tim Bontemps’ final MVP straw poll reveals why the Nuggets star is the runaway favorite.
2023 NBA MVP Finalists
Nikola Jokic | Center | Denver Nuggets
79 games | 26.4 PPG | 12.4 RPG | 9.0 APG
Luka Doncic | Point guard | Dallas Mavericks
70 games | 33.9 PPG | 9.2 RPG | 9.8 APG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Point guard | Oklahoma City Thunder
75 games | 30.1 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 6.2 APG
Zach Lowe’s MVP pick
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
5. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Gilgeous-Alexander and especially Doncic made this a real debate, even if Jokic will likely end up winning his third trophy.
Their relative voting totals…
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