The NBA MVP award finalists have been revealed, with three names remaining on the final list: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Jokic on Path to Win His Third NBA MVP Award
According to all the bookmakers, the Serbian player is the absolute favorite to land the third Most Valuable Player trophy in his collection. To be perfectly straight, if it were justice, he would have won last year’s accolades instead of Joel Embiid. Though, it appears that the Joker will get it now.
In 79 matches, Nikola averaged 26.4 points, with 12.4 boards and nine assists. All that while shooting 58.3% from the field in 34.6 minutes. His Nuggets barely missed the top spot in the West, clinching the second seed behind the OKC Thunder.
Luka’s Big Year
If it weren’t for a bit slower finish of the year, where Dallas had some ups and downs, we might have seen Luka as the top favorite for the award. We have to say that he really played well this season, even though his Mavs ended fourth without making too big of a noise in the West.
Now, he is nearing a triple-double average, having 33.9 points per game, which is the most in the NBA, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 boards.
His Mavericks still do not look like a team that can go all the way. Even though Kyrie Irving keeps Luka’s back, something is missing in their game.
OKC’s Breakthrough and Shai’s Message
We all know that the Thunder has a very potent and talented team. Though, their rise came much earlier than we thought. The first seed in the West is definitely proof of their evolution, and we will see them in the playoffs now. They don’t have some extraordinary experience but possess the drive for the win.
About Shai, he averaged 30.1 points, with 53.5% FG, adding 5.5 boards and 6.2 assists with two steals. These are his best numbers so far, and not only that, his team has the best result in years with him in charge. That’s a big statement.
