As the National Basketball Association has recently entered the 2022 – 2023 postseason, as we are now watching the NBA playoffs play – in games, it is a great time to review, analyze, and predict the NBA MVP Award race. This season it seems to be between just three candidates, and this year they are all big men / centers.

Joel Embiid

Throughout the 2022 – 2023 NBA season the Philadelphia 76ers center, Joel Embiid, has averaged 33.1 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists per game, 1.0 steals per game, and 1.7 blocks per game. Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to an overall record of 54 and 28 throughout the course of the 2022 – 2023 NBA regular – season, and the Philadelphia 76ers finished in 3rd – place in the Eastern Conference this year.

Embiid’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

  • 6 – Time NBA All – Star Selection (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
  • 4 – Time All – NBA Second Team Selection (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)
  • 3 – Time NBA All – Defensive Second Team Selection (2018, 2019, 2021)
  • 2 – Time NBA Scoring Champion (2022, 2023)
  • NBA All – Rookie First Team Selection (2017)
  • Second – Team All – Big 12 Selection (2014)
  • Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner (2014)
  • Big 12 All – Defensive Team Selection (2014)
  • Big 12 All – Newcomer Team Selection (2014)

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Throughout the 2022 – 2023 NBA season the Milwaukee Bucks center, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has averaged 31.1 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game, 5.7 assists per game, 0.8 steals per game, and 0.8 blocks per game. Giannis led the Milwaukee Bucks to an overall record of 58 and 24 throughout the course of the 2022 – 2023 NBA regular – season, and the Milwaukee Bucks finished in 1st – place in the Eastern Conference this year.

Antetokounmpo’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

  • NBA Champion (2021)
  • NBA Finals MVP Award Winner (2021)
  • 2 – Time NBA Most Valuable Player Award Winner (2019, 2020)
  • 7 – Time NBA All – Star Selection (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
  • NBA All – Star Game MVP Award Winner (2021)
  • 4 – Time All – NBA First Team Selection (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
  • 2 – Time All – NBA Second Team Selection (2017, 2018)
  • NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner (2020)
  • 4 – Time NBA All – Defensive First Team Selection (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
  • NBA All – Defensive Second Team Selection (2017)
  • NBA Most Improved Player Award Winner (2017)
  • NBA All – Rookie Second Team Selection (2014)
  • NBA 75th – Anniversary Team Selection
  • FIBA Euro – Basket Top Scorer (2022)
  • Euroscar Player of the Year Award Winner (2018)
  • 1 – Time Greek League All – Star Selection (2013)

Nikola Jokic

Throughout the 2022 – 2023 NBA season the Denver Nuggets center, Nikola Jokic, has averaged 24.5 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game, 9.8 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, and 0.7 blocks per game. Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to an overall record of 53 and 29 throughout the course of the 2022 – 2023 NBA regular – season, and the Denver Nuggets finished in 1st – place in the Western Conference this year.

Jokic’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

  • 2 – Time NBA Most Valuable Player Award Winner (2021, 2022)
  • 5 – Time NBA All – Star Selection (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
  • 3 – Time All – NBA First Team Selection (2019, 2021, 2022)
  • All – NBA Second Team Selection (2020)
  • NBA All – Rookie First Team Selection (2016)
  • 3 – Time Serbian Player of the Year Award Winner (2018, 2021, 2022)
  • ABA League MVP Award Winner (2015)
  • ABA League Top Prospect Selection (2015)

The 2022 – 2023 NBA MVP Award Predictions

Although Joel Embiid has yet to win an NBA MVP Award even though over the course of the last several years, he has been a final candidate for the top honor in the National Basketball Association, Joel might have earned it this season. My prediction is that Embiid will win the 2022 – 2023 NBA MVP Award.

Both Jokic and Antetokounmpo has won the NBA MVP Award 2 – times throughout their illustrious NBA careers, but this time Joel may be the best al around player especially because he remained healthy for the majority of the season. All three of these NBA MVP candidates are very similar. Not only are they all dominate NBA big – men, but they all can score close to 30 – points per game, rebound close to 10 – rebounds per game, and they all play a premium style of defense as well. This is a very tough call, and each of these three NBA MVP finalists deserve the award. Only time will tell.