Welcome to BetFTW's NBA MVP Ladder for the 2023-2024 season. Each week during the regular season, we tracked where the wind was blowing to win the league's biggest individual regular season award. With the playoffs quickly approaching, we'd like to bring you the final tracker update.
The NBA regular season is finally (fortunately) over. That means we can start paying attention to the play-ins… Hey, wait a minute! The MVP debate is still unsettled. That, dear reader, is my responsibility.
I don't think there's much to be proud of anymore. Nikola Jokic was the heavy favorite when the sportsbook odds for regular season MVP ran out, and that was basically the case for about two months to end the year. No matter how you look at it, the point center is the de facto key to winning his third MVP award in four seasons. And such a feat would put him in a very rare situation.
As you know, only eight NBA players have ever won MVP at least three times. The final list includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan (5), Bill Russell (5), LeBron James (4), Wilt Chamberlain (4), Larry Bird (3), Magic Johnson (3), Moses Malone (3). There are all 8 names. Barring something absolutely shocking, Jokic could soon be added to a list that features the league's second-leading scorer (Abdul-Jabbar) and perhaps the greatest player of all-time (Jordan or James). Some of the most important and unique basketball talents of all time (Chamberlain, Russell, Bird, Johnson, Malone).
Seriously, who would have thought there would be a day when Nikola Jokic would win as many MVP awards as Bird or Johnson? And he's still at the peak of his career. That way you'll know everything you need to know.
All I'm saying is, good luck with putting Jokic in the all-time player conversation right now. He belongs firmly there, and the likely three-time MVP should probably rank higher in these conversations than the general consensus would have you believe. why? Because Jokic is also one of the most important and unique talents in basketball history. Full stop.
Let's take a look at the final (unofficial) polls of this season's NBA MVP race and focus on why Jokic is more deserving of the award than any other superstar. Note: All official odds for MVP betting are not available at this time.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
last week: 7
The Kings fell off a cliff to end the regular season, going just 4-6 in their last 10 games. It's not all Sabonis' fault, and you can blame Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter for their respective injuries, but it does raise important questions. How much is Sabonis really worth? Is this Kings team doomed to forever straddle the line between play-in and first-round elimination? At the very least, the productive Sabonis is in the MVP conversation, even if he deserves a few mentions. We ended this year a long way from that.
Mark J. Revillas-USA TODAY Sports
last week: Ten
The Suns' scheduled death bid late in the season was saved by two wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves. That meant Phoenix missed the play-in after two wins and faced a flawed Minnesota team in the first round. Booker's solidity in solidifying the Suns as the de facto point guard shouldn't go unnoticed.
Joe Campoale-USA TODAY Sports
last week: 9
Although it's clear that he took a step back nearing the end of his life, Durant's age 35 NBA season was still one of the most efficient in terms of shooting of his entire career. With some encouragement from their leader, the Suns could make some noise this spring.and it is only It happens when Durant is making the jump shot he needs.
Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
last week: 8
LeBron James is 39 years old and just finished his 21st NBA regular season. He averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds, and shot an effective field goal percentage (EFG) of nearly 60 percent. Those are about the same numbers he had in back-to-back MVP seasons with the Miami Heat more than a decade ago. Just amazing. Again, James is 39 years old, he's had 21 seasons. None of this is normal.
Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
last week: 6
If Tatum can (or will) control the game as much as his peers near the top of the MVP discussion, he could be a strong candidate for this award. Until then, the two-way forward should feel lucky to be the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason and able to focus. that Mission.
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
last week: Five
Minnesota's season ended with a bang. Not only did the Timberwolves lose their No. 1 seed in the West, but a careless play near the goal line caused them to fall to the No. 3 seed. But Anthony Edwards can't be called careless when he's tasked with reinvigorating a Timberwolves team that has struggled offensively for more than a month without Karl-Anthony Towns. he did his job. Minnesota went 13-7 without Towns. It could have been much worse.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
last week: Four
Milwaukee's internal struggles and season-ending calf strain will likely define how we remember Antetokounmpo's last season. That's a shame considering he was an absolute dynamo in the paint and on the glass for the better part of half a year. Antetokounmpo leaves it on the floor every night like no other. Most of the time, the results usually benefit his Bucks in the win column.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
last week: 3
Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder secure the No. 1 seed for the first time in more than a decade (tiebreaker). However, if this was indeed an MVP/placement race all the way to the end, unlike in previous years, Gilgeous-Alexander would unfortunately have been penalized for having such an uninspiring performance in the closing stages. The injuries came at the worst possible time for Gilgeous-Alexander, but part of being MVP is being consistent, especially in this highly competitive race. and production.
Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
last week: 2
Doncic, the NBA's scoring leader, is arguably the best offensive engine in NBA basketball on any given night. And a few key midseason trades have transformed Dallas into a contender around a franchise player who appears to be evolving into his eventual Goliath form. If I were an NBA team, Doncic would easily cause the most fear. Well, apart from the guy at the top of this list.
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
last week: 1
There's not much more to say about Nikola Jokic other than he sounds like a broken record. Approaching his 30s, the Denver big man had arguably the most efficient season of his career. In a year in which the reigning champion Nuggets had a target on their back, top running mate Jamal Murray missed more than 20 games, and Denver added two second-year players to its top-seven playoff rotation, Jokic is looking forward. It was sublime. If not for a momentary lapse in concentration, the Nuggets would have finished as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, once again a threat.
This is a huge testament to Jokic and his greatness, and he is likely to officially become one of the most decorated superstars in NBA history. If he can win a new title and Finals MVP later this June, this regular-season honor will be like gravy for the icon.
