NBA MVP Rankings: Can Jokic complete 3-peat?
The 2022-23 NBA campaign is fast approaching and the MVP debate will soon begin. Nikola Jokic is the two-time reigning winner, but is this the year the Denver Nuggets star gets dethroned? Here's our preseason ranking of the top 10 MVP candidates.
10. LeBron James, Lakers
James is still going strong entering his 20th NBA campaign. The 37-year-old averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 boards, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks over 56 appearances in 2021-22. He also registered two 50-point games, becoming the oldest player to do so in one season.
James was right behind Joel Embiid in the scoring race, but he fell two appearances short of qualifying after suffering an ankle injury late in the regular season. The four-time Finals MVP has struggled to stay healthy throughout his time in Hollywood. The Los Angeles Lakers went 8-18 with James out of the lineup last season, and the superstar's durability will be key to both his MVP chances and the club's championship hopes.
9. Kevin Durant, Nets
Durant is back with the Brooklyn Nets after an offseason full of drama and uncertainty. The 12-time All-Star remains a lethal scoring threat, averaging just under 30 points on 51.8% shooting - including 38.3% from deep - across 55 contests last season. He ranked fourth in the Association in isolation points (5.7 per game) and fifth in clutch scoring (3.9).
There's no question Durant can still light up the scoreboard with the best of them. However, injuries have limited him to 90 out of a possible 154 regular-season games in two seasons with the Nets. His relationship with head coach Steve Nash is also a question mark after the two-time NBA champ reportedly asked for Nash to be fired this past summer.
8. Devin Booker, Suns
Booker seems to already be operating with a chip on his shoulder. The Phoenix Suns guard should have no shortage of motivation, especially after a pair of subpar performances against the Dallas Mavericks in Games 6 and 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Booker was the lead horse on a 64-win Suns squad last season. The Kentucky product posted 26.8 points, five boards, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest with the league's ninth-highest usage rate (31.3%). He earned his first All-NBA selection and finished fourth in the MVP race.
With backcourt mate Chris Paul another year older, expect Booker to take on a similar workload and possibly more playmaking responsibilities. The former lottery pick will garner serious MVP consideration if the Suns remain among the West's elite.
7. Jayson Tatum, Celtics
Tatum's continued rise helped the Boston Celtics come within two wins of the franchise's 18th NBA championship. The 24-year-old established new career highs in scoring (26.9 per game), 2-point percentage (52.4%), and rebounds (8.0) over 76 appearances last season. His 230 triples were the second-best single-campaign mark in Celtics history.
His passing improved significantly despite only a slight increase in assists from the year prior. The three-time All-Star averaged a team-high 6.2 dimes - including 13 assists in Game 1, a record for a player's Finals debut - during Boston's playoff run.
Tatum usually doesn't come out of the gate hot; he's registered 18.7 points on 42.1% shooting across his 84 career appearances in October and November. His and Boston's slow start contributed to his sixth-place finish in last season's MVP voting. Tatum needs to begin the year on the right foot - especially with Robert Williams III already sidelined - if he wants to have a realistic shot at the award.
6. Ja Morant, Grizzlies
Morant could quickly establish himself as an MVP contender. The Memphis Grizzlies guard owned the fifth-highest usage rate (33.7%) in 2021-22. That will likely rise even higher this season with Jaren Jackson potentially out until the new year and the departure of a few key depth pieces.
During the previous campaign, Morant set personal bests in multiple categories, including scoring (27.4 per contest), field-goal percentage (49.3%), and steals (1.2). He also earned Most Improved Player honors and his first All-Star and All-NBA selections.
Morant kept raising the bar in the playoffs, joining James and Kobe Bryant as the only players with multiple 45-point games in the postseason before the age of 23, per ESPN Stats & Info. Health is probably the biggest obstacle for Morant: He hasn't made more than 67 appearances in one regular season.
5. Stephen Curry, Warriors
Curry and the Golden State Warriors aren't done yet. The club is fresh off its fourth title in eight seasons and the sharpshooting guard earned his first Finals MVP award. Curry posted 31.2 points, six boards, and five assists per contest in the championship series, becoming the fourth player in league history to average a 30-5-5 stat line in multiple Finals, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
While Curry cooled off a bit in the second half of the regular season, his strong playoff performance should ease worries about a decline. The eight-time All-Star is just a year removed from a scoring title and should be in the thick of the MVP race if his shooting percentages return to career norms.
4. Luka Doncic, Mavs
Doncic was a heralded phenom before playing a single minute in the NBA. It's pretty safe to say he has lived up to the hype.
Doncic has earned three All-Star selections, three All-NBA first-team nods, and Rookie of the Year honors in just four seasons. The ex-Real Madrid star has amassed 46 triple-doubles during that span, which ranks 10th on the NBA's all-time list. He's also finished in the top six in both points and assists in each of the past three campaigns.
Doncic and the Mavs finally had their playoff breakthrough last season, dismantling the league-leading Suns on the road in Game 7 to reach the West finals. The 23-year-old was sensational throughout the team's run, averaging an Association-best 31.7 points as well as 9.8 boards, 6.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
Dallas has steadily climbed the standings in spite of lacking a true second star alongside Doncic. A top-three seed in the ultra-competitive West along with Doncic's high production and usage might be enough to earn the Slovenian his first MVP award.
3. Joel Embiid, 76ers
Embiid has finished a distant second to Nikola Jokic in MVP voting in each of the last two campaigns. The Philadelphia 76ers star has been nearly unstoppable during that span, recording 29.7 points, 11.2 boards, 3.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per contest. Last season, he captured his first career scoring title, becoming the first center since Shaquille O'Neal in 1999-2000 to lead the Association in scoring.
The 76ers' solid offseason should put Embiid at the forefront of the MVP conversation once again. The club added depth across the roster, including free-agent signees Montrezl Harrell and P.J. Tucker. The veteran duo and Paul Reed are expected to help Doc Rivers manage Embiid's minutes just as Andre Drummond did for most of the 2021-22 campaign. That formula helped Embiid play a career-high 68 games while maintaining a high level of performance deep into the year.
2. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Jokic hopes to become the fourth player to claim three consecutive MVP awards, which hasn't been done since Celtics icon Larry Bird's run from 1984-86. The Nuggets star has been the clear-cut choice over the past two seasons, registering 26.7 points, 12.3 boards, 8.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest over 146 appearances.
During the previous campaign, Jokic became the first player in NBA history to tally 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. The All-Star center also broke Wilt Chamberlain's 60-year mark for Player Efficiency Rating.
Denver runs its offense through the Serbia native. No big man in the league passes the ball like Jokic. He can sling full-court dimes like a quarterback, create for others as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, and hit cutters from the high post. The Nuggets' offense kept rolling despite the extended absences of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., and their return gives Jokic even more playmaking options.
The trio guided the franchise to the West finals when they were last collectively healthy. If Denver is able to recapture that form, a three-peat isn't out of the realm of possibility.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Antetokounmpo is among 15 players with multiple MVP trophies. Since winning the award back to back, the Greek Freak has finished in the top five twice. Antetokounmpo's ability to affect the game at both ends of the floor combined with his constant improvement has made him an annual threat for the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
The six-time All-NBA selection made a career-high 41% of his mid-range field goals last season, including a 6% increase from the year prior on shots between 14 feet and the 3-point arc.
Antetokounmpo's refined jumper added another wrinkle to an already potent Milwaukee Bucks offense, but he arguably provided more value on the opposite end. A back injury to starting center Brook Lopez forced Antetokounmpo to play a career-high 34% of his minutes at the 5 during the previous campaign. The 27-year-old successfully adjusted on the fly, solidifying the Bucks' interior defense with his shot-blocking and rim deterrence.
Honorable mentions: Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Paul George