The NBA MVP race is one of the closest we’ve seen in recent memory, and the two betting favorites – Nuggets star and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, and 76ers big man Joel Embiid – are almost impossible to separate.
A panel of USA TODAY voters gave the nod to Jokic, who vaulted Embiid late in the season – but the results were still incredibly close.
According to Nets superstar Kevin Durant, who himself would have been in the MVP conversation if not for his midseason knee injury, Embiid deserves the award – but Durant noted that there are several worthy candidates this season.
Via ESPN:
“If I had to choose, I would go Joel Embiid,” the Brooklyn Nets star forward said after Tuesday’s walkthrough. “He led the league in scoring, double-doubles, his team won 50 games this year. Numbers were incredible. It’s a great year.
…. But you can just close your eyes and just pick any one of the guys out of the top six or seven, and you can have a good MVP this year.”
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