MEET YOUR NBA MVP WINNER…

The thing about the NBA MVP award is that only one person can win it. This can sometimes be a bit problematic when multiple players are having what appears to be MVP caliber seasons. It is one of the most prestigious accolades in sports. In the NBA, a game overflowing with superstar talent, one player has the power to control every possession or even dictate a team's destiny. That's the MVP. This season's MVP race is the most wide open MVP race I can remember, and from my perspective, there are 6 or 7 players who could potentially take home the Michael Jordan trophy this season. But today, we will be focusing on the top 3 players who I feel have the best odds of winning the MVP award this season. But before we dive in, it's important to keep in mind that a lot can change between now and game 82. Injuries can happen, players can fall off, and losing streaks can pile up. You just never know. So this video is just an assessment of where things stand right now. There is one major thing also that we should address, and that's the narrative of voter fatigue. MVP Voter Fatigue. You may be wondering, why is MVP fatigue a real thing? Well, if it wasn't for MVP voter fatigue, players like LeBron James could probably have won it every year in prime, Michael Jordan could have won 7, and Kobe Bryant would certainly have at least won more. It's certainly just the nature of greatness, we get used to it and grow numb to its absurdity. Not to every one of us though. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets All-Star Center, is on a monumental task this season, winning a third MVP award. Jokic has already won the award twice in a row now, but winning it again, a third time in a row, would be a historical feat. You see, no player has won 3 MVPs since Larry Bird did it back in the 80s. Even if Jokic played like the best player in the league, it would still be a difficult accomplishment to achieve. This is due to the voters typically having the desire to create new narratives by crowning a different winner. Why should Nikola Jokic win a third straight MVP? Well, the answer is simple. It's time to accept that he's one of the best basketball players in the world. Standing at 6 foot 11 and weighing 284 pounds, Jokic possesses both immense size and strength, but also an unmatched skill level. There have been some great passing big men throughout the history of the NBA. Names like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Walton, Arvid Asibonis, Vlade Divac, the Gasol brothers, Wes and Sled, and Draymond Green immediately come to mind. But there may not be any better than Jokic, who is averaging a career best 9.7 assists per game, would be the most ever by a center, topping Wilt's 8.6 assists per game when he won the assist title in 1967-68 with 702 total assists. Jokic is also a scoring machine, putting up an incredible 69.1 true shooting percentage and averaging over 25 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. Not only is Jokic nearly averaging a triple double, but he also leads all players in that category with 9 on the season and ranks second in double doubles with 26. But it's not just his scoring that sets him apart. His quick hands and incredible positioning make him a force on defense despite not being the quickest player on the court. The Nuggets are a force to be reckoned with, and Jokic is leading the charge. It's shaping up to be another exciting season for the Denver franchise. When Jokic is on the court, the Nuggets offense is on par with some of the best teams in the league. However, when he's not on the court, things take a drastic turn. The Nuggets offense becomes one of the worst in the league, a truly remarkable swing. Is that not the simplest definition of how valuable someone is to their team? If he can maintain this level of play over the course of the season and lead the Nuggets to the top seat in the West, then he could become the first player in 37 years to win 3 straight MVPs. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks At just 23 years old, it's safe to say that Doncic is well on his way to becoming one of the greatest basketball players of all time. And with Jalen Brunson's decision to join the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks were left without a high-level secondary playmaker to support their offense. This forced Luka Doncic to take on an enormous load. His usage percentage is 37.8 currently, the highest in the league. This is due to his ability to single-handedly carry an offense, something that is truly unmatched by any other player currently in the league. Standing at 6 foot 7 and weighing 230 pounds, Doncic is a force to be reckoned with on the court. His ball handling skills are unparalleled, with a deep shooting range and a great touch. He has the vision to make any pass on the court, and even though he may lack top speed, he more than makes up for it with raw power and old-school craft. And let's not forget the idea that he can pull off any move on the court. He's currently producing career-high best in terms of both scoring volume and efficiency, and he is currently averaging 33.3 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, and 8.5 assists per game, with a 61.1 true shooting percentage. With a 23-19 record, the Mavericks are currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference, thanks to Doncic's domination on the court. Watching Luka play is like watching greatness in action. We can confidently say that he will win the MVP award one day, probably multiple times. The question now is, will the Mavericks win enough games for him to win it this year? Only time will tell. Jason Tatum ended last season on a sour note, putting up a disappointing finals effort against a formidable Warriors defense following what was a simply outstanding season. But has put any doubts to rest with his incredible first-half performance in the 2022-23 season. This season, Tatum has been making a strong case for the MVP award. If he manages to win, he would be the first Celtics player since Larry Bird to earn the league's highest individual honor, the Michael Jordan Trophy. Tatum is putting up the most points per game of his career, averaging 30.8 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on the best scoring efficiency of his career, 61.3% true shooting, for a Boston team with the best offensive basketball. He is also leading the Boston Celtics to a league-leading 29-12 record. It's truly incredible as Tatum has accomplished all of this without the help of defensive anchor Robert Williams III, who has yet to play this season due to a knee injury. Tatum has truly become the total package as a scorer. Not only is he a high-volume 3-point shooter who can pull up from anywhere on the court, but he's also deadly in the pick and roll when he gets going downhill. But that's not all. Tatum has made a big leap in terms of drawing fouls, making it even more difficult for defenders to stop him. At 6'8", Tatum's combination of size and skill makes it incredibly difficult for anyone to match up against him. Tatum is the best player on the best team in the league, at least when they're focused. Could this be the season Tatum earns the MVP and makes history for the Celtics? Only time will tell. This piece will not be complete without an honorable mention, so before you meet your MVP, let me do an honorary mention. It will not be right to talk about the MVP without mentioning the 4-time NBA MVP, LeBron James. Right now, LeBron stands in the company of only Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to win 4 or more NBA MVP awards. Enough of that now, so who will be the MVP this season? And my MVP winner is...Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Jason Tatum have all so far had incredible seasons, but my MVP pick is Luka Doncic. He has played an integral part in the Mavs as a one-man offense. Just imagine the Dallas Mavericks without Luka, how many points would they score? Nikola Jokic possesses a strong case to consider, but due to the reality of the MVP voter fatigue, it will be very hard for him. I know things may take a drastic turn in the second phase of the season, but for now, Luka Doncic is my MVP. Let me know your thoughts on who should win the MVP this season. It will be a controversial one, but the fact is there is only one MVP, not two or three, just one. Thanks for watching and don't forget to give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel for more NBA content. Until next time, take care!