While Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic have dominated the conversation around this season’s Most Value Player award, another player has been flying under the radar and is perhaps closer to striking than people realize.
That was until Monday, when he very much put the league on notice. Again.
Two-time league MVP and reigning Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points on an unreal 17-of-21 from the field in a win over the Indiana Pacers. It was the fourth 50-point game of his career and a performance reminiscent of his 50-point outburst in the closeout Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Entering Thursday, Antetokounmpo has +350 odds on Tipico Sportsbook to claim a third MVP award, the third shortest behind Embiid at +155 and Jokic at +300. He’ll have a chance to further entrench himself in the race when his Milwaukee Bucks (-6.5) host Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
NBA MVP Odds
Joel Embiid +155
Nikola Jokic +300
Giannis Antetokounmpo +350
Stephen Curry +750
Ja Morant +1200
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Last night, Giannis Antetokounmpo took just 21 shots to get his 50 points. That is the 4th-fewest FGA in a 50-point game in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/S451loJfJF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 16, 2022
Giannis Antetokounmpo had his 3rd career 50-point game in the regular season, the 2nd-most in Bucks history, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10). pic.twitter.com/w8SW2M0kLi
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 16, 2022
That Antetokounmpo is a distant third is somewhat a sign of how much his greatness is taken for granted. While Embiid is no doubt having an incredible season, picking up where he left off in last year’s injury-riddled campaign, the assumption that he’s a lock this year is a little misguided.
Antetokounmpo is having a season not only very much on par with Embiid and Jokic’s, but also similar to his own previous two MVP campaigns.
The Greek Freak enters Thursday as the league leader in scoring at 29.4 points, slightly ahead of Embiid’s 29.3. And he’s doing it while shooting a better percentage from the field and averaging more rebounds and assists.
The advanced numbers also favor Antetokounmpo over Embiid, as he averages more win shares per 48 minutes and has a higher player efficiency rating. This is where Jokic’s case strengthens, too, as he ranks higher than both players in WS/48 and PER while also averaging more rebounds and assists.
However, the final case for Antetokounmpo is the one category that has always mattered a lot, and that’s team success. The reigning champion Bucks are 36-23 with a .610 winning percentage, better than both the 76ers at .596 and Nuggets at .569. Embiid and Jokic have perhaps overcome more adversity due to teammate injuries and absences, which helps their cases. But the Bucks haven’t been completely healthy either, and there’s still a lot of season left.
It may be boring, but if Antetokounmpo continues at the pace he’s been playing since Christmas, averaging over 32 points per game — and the Bucks continue to pace the 76ers and Nuggets in the standings — his MVP resume will be as strong as any other candidate.