Who are the top candidates for MVP in the NBA for the 2023-24 season?
The 2023-24 NBA season is just around the corner and with that, we’re taking a look at those who look to be part of the MVP conversation. Let’s get into it.
The Nuggets’ big man looks like a strong bet to retake his throne, while the man who took it from him, the 76ers’ own man in the middle, appears to be set on maintaining it. That’s not to say there aren’t others. The Mavericks have their own European sensation, as do the Bucks.
Counting down the top 10 candidates for MVP
For the purpose of the following list, we’ve tried to take a look at both player impact and team success. That’s to say, it’s one thing to be the best player around, but helping your team to achieve something, or better yet win a title, is a completely different story. We’ve got some young guns, previous winners, and some who have narrowly missed out on the honor before.
10. De’Aaron Fox
Last campaign, De’Aaron Fox led the Sacramento Kings to a top-three finish in the West and a first playoff appearance for the team in 16 years. Though they would go on to lose in the first round to the Golden State Warriors, it was clear that the point guard and his teammates had given reason to take notice. 25.0 points per game with an impressive 6.1 assists per game as well. Assuming he can build on that, one has to imagine that he will be worthy of elite status. While it seems a stretch to think he can be named the league’s best in this coming season, it wouldn’t be surprising if his name’s in the hat.
9. Kawhi Leonard
When it comes to the Clippers star, it’s really about health. Quite frankly, it’s the only thing that Kawhi Leonard has not been exemplary in during recent seasons. If he can stay injury-free, there’s no reason to think he can’t make his team a contender, and be one of the final candidates for MVP. Remember, this is a team that also has Paul George and Russell Westbrook. Then, there’s still the possibility that we may see a certain trade-requesting 76er joining the band.
8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
A pure athlete who just knows how to score. What else can you say about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? With a career-high average of 31.4 points per game, an All-Star appearance, and an All-NBA First-Team vote, there was little any defense could do with the OKC weapon last season. With the imminent return of Chet Holmgren, it’s quite likely we’re looking at an Oklahoma City Thunder team that can make a decent run in the playoffs this coming campaign. Expect to see the 25-year-old earning himself some votes when the MVP award comes around.
7. Anthony Davis
Yet another player that’s been hindered by injury. With no less than eight All-Star appearances and four All-NBA nods, Anthony Davis is an established star of the league and quite literally one of the best centers we’ve seen in the history of the game. The trouble has been that he’s struggled to stay healthy. If there is a bright side, it’s his age. At 30 years old, Davis is still in his prime, and with that in mind could be a serious contender if managed properly.
6. Devin Booker
The Suns star is an interesting one. For starters, he’s Phoenix through and through in that he’s played nowhere else in the league in the eight seasons that he’s spent in it. There’s also the fact that Devin Booker is just 26 years old and in sensational form. On the flip side, he’s got two All-Stars alongside him and one of them happens to be a former MVP, Kevin Durant. Indeed, it could be that the former Nets star actually steals the votes that Booker may need to claim the award for himself. Yet, there is the team aspect of it. Though the Suns have Booker, Durant, and Bradley Beal, what they don’t have is depth. That could also prove to be a problem for Booker’s quest to be the best.
5. Joel Embiid
Having won the award last year, it’s basically impossible to not include Joel Embiid in the conversation. That’s before we consider the fact that aside from the player who won the award the year before - we’ll get to him - he’s the only other big man in the game who is truly unstoppable. Indeed, with a 30-point per-game average across the last two seasons, it’s not hard to see why. Should James Harden finally leave Philly, he may lose some degree of service, but rest assured it would be genuinely shocking if he’s not one of the last standing when it comes down to who will be MVP.
4. Jayson Tatum
It’s hard not to like Jayson Tatum. Not only is he the protagonist in the show that the Celtics perform at the TD Garden week in and week out, but he’s also genuinely gifted. What’s even better is that with the addition of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, he will have greater offensive freedom, something that does not bode well for opposing defenses. Truth be told, if he can improve on defense and continue to do so, it will simply be a matter of when he wins an MVP award and not if.
3. Luka Doncic
Like Tatum behind him, it’s more a question of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ when it comes to the Luka Doncic What’s the difference? Though he’s actually younger at 24 years old than the 25-year-old Celtics star, the Mavericks star is as seasoned as they come and then some. Consider for a moment that we’re talking about a guy who seems to manufacture triple-doubles. If there is one hindrance facing him, it’s the team. Last season, the fans in Dallas didn’t get to enjoy a postseason run as the team failed to make the playoffs. What’s worse is that they were later fined $750k by the NBA for reportedly doing so intentionally, in an effort to protect Draft lottery chances. This is all to say that even if they’ve also got Kyrie Irving, it’s hard for the Mavs to do much better which will ultimately hurt Doncic’s chances of earning the top spot.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The idea that Giannis Antetokounmpo can now count on the services of Damian Lillard just doesn’t seem fair. Following the biggest trade of the offseason that saw the former Blazers star join an already very strong team, it’s now safe to say the Milwaukee Bucks are no joke. Ironically, it may be that the ‘Greek Freak’ - a former MVP himself - finds his new teammate nabbing some of those votes, but you can bet Giannis will be among the first three when the curtain comes down. Of course, if the Bucks win it all - they’re among the favorites to do so - then expect him to be this season’s MVP.
1. Nikola Jokic
Remember we mentioned the guy that won the MVP prior Joel Embiid, that would be the Denver Nuggets man in the middle, Nikola Jokic. By the way, he won the award the year prior to that as well. Though the 76ers’ star took home the award this past season, it’s not to say Jokic wasn’t sensational. If we’re honest he was absolutely phenomenal. It was on the back of his efforts that the Denver Nuggets were crowned NBA champions, something Embiid didn’t even come close to doing. It remains to be seen whether the Nuggets can repeat and in all likelihood, it looks incredibly difficult when considering the idea that the Bucks, Celtics, and Suns have all strengthened, while there haven’t been any significant changes in Denver. Yet, something tells us that with his average of 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game, the Serbian is a sure bet.