NBA Midseason MVP Award: Joel Embiid Of 76ers

Now that the NBA season is halfway over, it has been full of surprises. Who knew that Oklahoma City and Minnesota were tied atop the Western Conference? Anybody will do. It’s also time to evaluate the NBA postseason awards as we approach the halfway point. I will be releasing my predictions for some of the NBA’s most important awards at this stage of the season this week. As of now:

NBA MVP: Joel Embiid
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokic
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Luka Doncic

If the current MVP can just maintain his health long enough to cross the new 65-game mark, he’s positioning himself for a repeat.

Embiid has been statistically more effective this season than last, posting career highs in points (34.6) and assists (6), hauling down 11.8 rebounds a game, shooting 36% from 3, and playing outstanding rim-protecting defense. He’s leading the 76ers to victory as they hold the third seed in the East, outscoring opponents by 12.6 points per 100 possessions while he’s on the field.

Embiid’s ability to maintain composure and lead this team to victory despite James Harden‘s messy exit, though Tyrese Maxey and Nick Nurse deserve recognition as well, is what sets him apart. Philly may have fallen apart. Rather, they appear as a squad that should be in the title game. Joel Embiid now leads the MVP competition as a result.

The fact that Embiid has already missed ten games this season—a player is not eligible for playoff accolades under the NBA’s new player participation rules if they miss more than 17—could cost him the MVP. As of now, Embiid is expected to play 60 games this season. To qualify, he will need to maintain good health and avoid taking many nights off.

Despite his impressive statistical record of 31.4 points and 6.3 assists per game, Gilgeous-Alexander is ranked second on my list due to his heavy workload in leading the Thunder to the second seed in the Western Conference. Josh Giddey is not an exceptional star like the guys on this list (though I do put Jamal Murray among them); therefore, SGA has to bear a greater burden, in my opinion. That’s what matters.

Still the finest player on the globe, Nikola Jokic is effectively putting up monster stats once more: 25.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game.

Although he is still in the discussion, his regular season stats are a tad lower this year, which is indicative of the Nuggets’ overall focus this season (they remain the club in the West that any team considering the playoffs needs to pass). Giannis Antetokounmpo (31.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and outstanding defense for the second seed in the East) and Luka Doncic (33.6 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.1 rebounds for Dallas) put them in the top five but a step behind the top three.

Gilgeous Alexander and Embiid are on one tier, and the remaining three are on the next, I may add.

Tyrese Haliburton, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and Kawhi Leonard were also worthy of mention.