As the NBA moves into the playoffs, the tension levels rise, and the interest continues to build with the best of the best coming up against each other. Each team has the opportunity to win and the NBA championship odds are constantly changing, they all have belief they can lift the trophy at the end of the season.
The 2023 NBA season has been as exhilarating as ever and we have witnessed players across the league on every team put up incredible performances which lift us off our seats.
Deciding upon who will take home the NBA MVP of 2023 award has been a very tough decision for all involved with such incredible performances from players all over the league.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid has been named the MVP for the 2023 season and the Philadelphia 76ers center is well deserved having edged the award over some of the biggest stars in basketball history.
Cameroonian star Embiid ended a run of two-season as runner up to Nikola Jokić for this award with 73 first-place votes and 915 total points from the 100 member media voting panel.
Being named MVP for 2023 was down to his impressive consistency and domination on the court. He became the frist crenter to win back-to-back scoring titles sign 1974-76 racking up an average of 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.
He has become just the sixth player born outside of the United States to win the award and only the second African-born player to do so joining Hakeem Olajuwon.
The 29-year-old had been sidelined for parts of this season and managed 66 games in the regular season, which is the second-highest total of his career. With Embiid on the court the 76ers were a terrifying prospect for any side.
Embiid told NBA.com that “It’s been a long time coming, a lot of hard work. I’ve been through a lot. I’m not just talking about basketball. I’m talking about my life. My story. Where I come from. How I got here and what it took for me to be here”.
He has become the first 67er to win the league MVP award since 2001 when it was given to Allen Iverson, and before him it was Moses Malone in 1983.
While Embiid has been a huge factor in the regular season, he has missed some playoff action already and will need to get back to full fitness if the 76ers are to challenge for the title come the final game of the season.
Nikola Jokić
After two straight years as MVP, Nikola Jokić has had to settle for second place.
The Denver Nuggets star missed out on joining Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry bird as the only players in NBA History to win three straight most valuable player awards.
Jokić averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists across 69 regular season games this year. He again has propelled the Nuggets into the playoffs and made them a serious contender in 2023.
While individual awards are nice, Jokić has already secured his name as one of the greats in NBA history. What is very much on his mind is to finally bring a Champioship to Colorado. While they have 12 division titles in their history, the Championship remains elusive and that is what is the highest priority for Jokić and his team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Coming in third in the MVP list and crashing out of the Playoffs to Miami Heat has been a disappointing end to the season for Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks.
“The Greek Freak” has said there are no failures, only opportunities to grow. Missing out on the Championship for a second year in a row after winning in 2021, Giannis knows his side need to regroup and work hard to go again in the new 2024 season.
He did his best, averaging 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 63 regular season games. While he continued to put up high, consistent numbers, his side stumbled at the Playoff hurdle while favorites against Miami Heat.
2023 will be another season of reflection and things to work on in Milwaukee as the Bucks look to get back to their best and be a real threat once again in 2024. Giannis is now 28 years old and will be looking to carry this team in the prime of his career. A leader on and off the pitch for the Milwaukee Bucks.
There three players have dominated the rankings for MVP for the past five seasons, with Antetokounmpo winning in 2019 and 2020, and Jokić winning in 2021 and 2022. With Embiid taking the title this season that makes five years in a row an international player has won the MP award.
Next season will no doubt see similar names for the title but could we see a domestic player challenging these leaders in 2024?