For over a decade now, USA Basketball offers you every Tuesday its Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”. This week, we decided to opt for the decisive period which is coming soon because, Saturday evening then Monday evening, two shocks at the top will take place: Nikola Jokic against Giannis Antetokounmpothen Nikola Jokic against Joel Embiid.
Suffice to say that the title of MVP 2023 could well be decided in the coming days, depending on the results of these two face-to-face meetings, while a tantalizing clash between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid will also take place in ten days. , just to send a last resounding message.
Which suitor shines the most against the others?
The perfect opportunity to reflect on the various confrontations that have already taken place between the best players of this season. Namely Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid of course, but also Jayson Tatum And Domantas Saboniswhich make up our Top 5, without forgetting Luka Doncicwhich has long been part of it.
Note that we only take into account the matches where the two contenders for the MVP trophy were present in each camp. Clearly, if Denver challenged Philadelphia without Nikola Jokic and / or Joel Embiid, the meeting is not listed in the balance sheet.
– Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Balance sheet : 2 wins, 4 losses.
Stats : 26.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists.
Percentages : 64% on shots, 43% at 3-pts and 92% on throws.
–Joel Embiid (Sixers)
Balance sheet : 4 wins, 5 losses.
Stats : 31.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 against.
Percentages : 52% on shots, 36% on 3-pts and 77% on throws.
– Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Balance sheet : 5 wins, 3 losses.
Stats : 30.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Percentages : 53% on shots, 35% on 3-pts and 69% on throws.
– Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Balance sheet : 8 wins, 1 loss.
Stats : 29.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
Percentages : 49% on shots, 29% on 3-pts and 85% on throws.
– Domantas Sabonis (Kings)
Balance sheet : 2 wins, 4 losses.
Stats : 23.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
Percentages : 66% on shots, 57% at 3-pts and 81% on throws.
–Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Balance sheet : 2 wins, 6 losses.
Stats : 31.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 9.1 assists.
Percentages : 49% on shots, 35% on 3-pts and 68% on throws.
For the time being, we therefore see that Jayson Tatum and the Celtics are showing themselves without mercy in the big meetings, they who are currently establishing themselves as the fourth most victorious team in the NBA (20-14) against franchises at least 50% success. Behind Milwaukee (22-10), Denver (19-10) and Philadelphia (18-10).
But, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing relatively well against his direct competitors for the title of MVP, Joel Embiid and especially Nikola Jokic have a little more difficulty in making their law in the posters that count. Ditto for Domantas Sabonis and Luka Doncic, more in difficulty when it comes to beating the cream of the league.
It remains to be seen whether these results can have repercussions on the choices of voters at the time of the ballot, while we can also highlight the results of each team in the absence of their respective leader: 3-5 for Denver without Jokic, 9-6 for Milwaukee without Antetokounmpo, 9-4 for Philadelphia without Embiid, 2-3 for Boston without Tatum, 1-1 for Sacramento without Sabonis and 5-10 for Dallas without Doncic.
2023 MVP RACE: OUR TOP 5
1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 48 wins, 24 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 64 contested out of 72 possible.
Statistics: 24.7 pts, 11.9 reb, 9.9 pds, 1.2 int, 0.7 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 63% on shots, 39% at 3-pts and 82% on throws.
2 – Joel Embiid (Sixers)
Assessment: 48 wins, 23 losses – 3rd in the East.
Matches: 58 disputed out of 71 possible.
Statistics: 33.6 pts, 10.3 reb, 4.1 pds, 1.1 int, 1.8 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 55% shooting, 35% 3-pt and 86% throwing.
3 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 51 wins, 20 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 56 disputed out of 71 possible.
Statistics: 31.3 pts, 11.9 reb, 5.6 pds, 0.7 int, 0.8 ctr and 3.9 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 55% shooting, 29% 3-pt and 65% throwing.
4 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 49 wins, 23 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 67 disputed out of 72 possible.
Statistics: 30.0 pts, 8.9 reb, 4.7 pds, 1.0 int, 0.7 ctr and 3.0 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 46% on shots, 35% at 3-pts and 86% on throws.
5 – Domantas Sabonis (Kings)
Assessment: 43 wins, 28 losses – 3rd in the West.
Matches: 69 disputed out of 71 possible.
Statistics: 19.1 pts, 12.5 reb, 7.2 pds, 0.8 int, 0.5 ctr and 2.9 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 61% on shots, 36% at 3-pts and 77% on throws.
Mentions : Luka Doncic (Mavericks), Julius Randle (Knicks), Jimmy Butler (Heat), De’Aaron Fox (Kings), James Harden (Sixers)…
