What makes an NBA Most Valuable Player? Is it simply scoring points night after night or is it a player that not only performs but makes the entire team better? There is always a level of argument around what makes an MVP and it isn’t always making the NBA Playoffs or winning the Finals. With the NBA Playoffs nearing, fans are debating which teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences will make the Finals. Basketball fans can go to Betfair to get bet bonuses and tips before wagering on the NBA Playoff games.
The top candidates for the NBA MVP award have their teams competing for a playoff place. Yet, simply competing and jockeying for a postseason berth doesn’t make them a true MVP contender.
The Race for the NBA MVP Award
5 – Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic belongs on this list thanks to the Denver Nuggets exceeding expectations again this season. The Nuggets are 40-18 and second in the Western Conference. They are outplaying teams with far bigger names including the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets. Jokic is averaging a career-high 20.8 points per game and 10.2 rebounds. Add in his 6.8 assists per night and his importance to the Nuggets comes even more into focus.
4 – Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
There were certainly those NBA fans and followers that expected the Los Angeles Lakers acquisition of Anthony Davis to cause the team to implode. It has done the opposite and the Lakers are the cream of the crop in the Western Conference. Davis is averaging 26.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per night. He is shooting 50.8 percent from the field and tallying 34.5 minutes a night.
3 – James Harden, Houston Rockets
James Harden has returned to his old self since the Houston Rockets acquired Robert Covington around the trade deadline. The space Harden has found on the court has been ample helping the guard to improve on his brilliant stats. Harden is averaging 34.9 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game. He also plays alongside the ultra high-usage Russell Westbrook, so scoring nearly 35 points a night is an incredible feat.
2 – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
The reigning NBA MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is having a stellar year for the Milwaukee Bucks. The team is in a win-now mode as Antetokounmpo could be a free agent after next season. He is currently averaging 29.6 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. However, the big mark against Antetokounmpo is the Eastern Conference’s competition. The Bucks are running away with the conference having the best record in the NBA once more.
1 – LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James is a controversial decision as NBA MVP. Antetokounmpo is having another tremendous year, leading the Bucks to the best record in the Association, but James has taken the Lakers from a team that missed the playoffs in 2018-19 to a potential Finals winner this year. James is carrying the Lakers with over 25 points a night. He also averages 10.7 assists per game and 7.8 rebounds. James has turned the Lakers into a contender for the NBA Championship and is doing it at 35-years-old.
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