Small change this year. Rather than offering a MVP race weekly, which was repeated too often in our eyes, we decided to adopt a monthly one.
The race for MVP #1: a new Joel Embiid – Nikola Jokic duel?
The race for MVP #2: sixth is the right one for Luka Doncic?
The race for MVP #3: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander follows in the footsteps of the greatest
The race for MVP #4: Jayson Tatum, forgotten in the discussions?
For our fifth and (already) final point of the season, the time has come to look at the applications of our two presumed favorites: Nikola Jokic as well as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Neck and neck, they still seem to have a head start on Luka Doncic, but especially Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jayson Tatum and, as they will both finish in the Top 3 in the West and around 70% of victories, it is hard to imagine seeing them outside the Top 2 this year.
If we start from the principle that Luka Doncic is starting from a little too far collectively despite a good comeback, it remains to be seen which of the Serbian Nuggets or the Canadian Thunder will be acclaimed by the voters, in order to succeed a Joel Embiid long launched towards a double, before being cut down by his meniscus injury.
A regular or a novice?
On the one hand, Nikola Jokic represents consistency in excellence and domination, while, even reigning champion and MVP of the Finals, he has not slowed down and will climb for the fourth consecutive season on the MVP podium , always without giving the impression of forcing to manhandle his defenders.
On the other hand, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander represents the novelty and the surprise, as he confirms his explosion of last year by leading one of the ten youngest teams in the league in the… Top 5 best records of the country, by trivializing 30-point performances with as disconcerting ease as that of the “Joker” with the triple-double.
Both of them have individually flown through this 2023/24 exercise in their position, establishing themselves without much possible dispute as the best pivot and the best full-back of the season, beyond being among the most consistent players who be.
Nikola Jokic is favored by the projections
Note that in the event of a new coronation, the third of his career and a record for a non-American, which would put him in the same rank as Moses Malone, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, but still behind LeBron James (4), Wilt Chamberlain (4), Bill Russell (5), Michael Jordan (5) and finally Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nikola Jokic would also become the sixth player to win, in that order, MVP of the Finals then MVP of the regular season, after Abdul- Jabbar, Bill Walton, Bird, Jordan (twice) and James.
As for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a first title in this category would make him the second Canadian to triumph after Steve Nash (2005, 2006), in addition to being the third Thunder player in the space of only… ten years to be rewarded in this way after Kevin Durant (2014) and Russell Westbrook (2017). A potentially unprecedented feat historically, on the part of a franchise.
As for projections, it is for the moment Nikola Jokic who holds the rope among the bookmakersin the US press, on the NBA website or according to Basketball-Reference. Proof that we should perhaps not take into account the criterion of voter weariness, which may have weighed on Michael Jordan, LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo in the past, as highlighted in particular by The Athletic in a recent file…
RACE FOR MVP: OUR TOP 5
1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Summary: 52 wins, 23 losses – 2nd in the West.
Matches: 72 disputed out of 75 possible.
Stats: 26.1 pts, 12.3 reb, 9.0 pads, 1.3 int, 0.9 ctr and 2.9 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 58% on shots, including 35% on 3-pointers, and 82% on throws.
2 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
Summary: 52 wins, 22 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 71 disputed out of 74 possible.
Stats: 30.3 pts, 5.5 reb, 6.3 pads, 2.1 int, 0.9 ctr and 2.2 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 54% on shots, including 37% on 3-pointers, and 87% on throws.
3 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Summary: 45 wins, 29 losses – 5th in the West.
Matches: 65 disputed out of 74 possible.
Stats: 34.0 pts, 9.1 reb, 9.8 pads, 1.5 int, 0.5 ctr and 4.0 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 49% on shots, including 38% on 3-pointers, and 78% on throws.
4 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Summary: 47 wins, 27 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 69 disputed out of 74 possible.
Stats: 30.8 pts, 11.5 reb, 6.4 pads, 1.2 int, 1.0 ctr and 3.4 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 61% on shots, including 29% on 3-pointers, and 66% on throws.
5 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Summary: 58 wins, 16 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 69 disputed out of 74 possible.
Stats: 27.3 pts, 8.2 reb, 4.9 pads, 1.0 int, 0.6 ctr and 2.6 pdb in 36 min.
Percentages: 47% on shots, including 38% on 3-pointers, and 83% on throws.
