The 2021-22 season should be an intriguing one as training camp will be underway in a few weeks. Through this past season, we witnessed several all-stars continue to ascend as leaders and make an impact across the NBA. With that being said, it will become a competitive match for the MVP trophy

Last season was a battle of the bigs in the MVP race. Both Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic each displayed fantastic seasons while being the x-factor in their team’s success. Luckily, it was the Joker who averaged nearly a triple-double that took home the trophy. Heading into this season, both Jokic and Embiid will look to continue to be in the conversations as MVP favorites through the year. 

Outside of Jokic and Embiid, several names will continue to emerge this season as MVP favorites. Many are coming off of successful seasons while some are looking to bounce back. Let’s look into a few MVP favorites that will shine through the 2021-22 season. 

Nick’s Early MVP Candidates

5. Luka

Can Luka Doncic possibly make his way into a top MVP candidate? The Slovenian stud has continued to shine in the NBA with the show he displays on the court. The way Doncic can emerge as a top candidate is if the Mavericks can make their way as a top contender in the Western Conference. 

Last season, Doncic shined once again with an average of 27.7 points along with eight rebounds and 8.6 assists. A way for him to develop his game is to become a more consistent perimeter shooter. Besides that, Doncic continues to ascend as a top talent in the NBA and his popularity will keep him in the conversation. 

4. KD

He has already won the trophy before but can Kevin Durant find his way as an MVP favorite again? Durant is coming off of a stellar postseason with a chip on his shoulder. Let’s not also forget to mention that the Nets remain favorites to win the NBA title this upcoming season. Durant has an opportunity to set the tone in the regular season, so Brooklyn has a better shot at a successful postseason.

Durant didn’t play enough games last season to insert himself into the MVP conversation. Playing at least 65 games this year could place him as a top candidate. We already understand how dangerous Durant can be as an elite scorer. That along with his leadership could come in handy through the course of the year. 

3. Embiid

It’s a new season for Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. The team should approach this year ready to lock in and take care of business. It was debatable whether Embiid was considered the best center in the game or not. If Embiid heads into this season with the same approach as last year, his name will continue to be in talks for the MVP. 

Expect Embiid to average around 28 points and 12 assists on the season. The reason why Jokic eclipsed him as an MVP candidate was due to his missed time during the middle of the season. A healthy Embiid will mean big things for the Sixers and the NBA. 

2. Giannis

If there’s any player that’s riding momentum into the next season, it’s the Greek Freak. Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off of a monstrous NBA playoff a season ago that resulted in an NBA Championship. With that being said, there are eyes on the Greek Freak to return this season with a strong outing.

Not only will Giannis be a top MVP candidate, but he will continue to ascend as a leader, leading the Bucks to one of the top records in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks understand that repeating as champions will be a tough task through this season. As a result, expect Giannis’ dominant performances to set the tone for the rest of the team. 

1. Jokic

My favorite candidate to win the award again is Nikola Jokic. Last season taught the world that Jokic is one of the premier big men in the NBA and his versatility stands out over everyone. With Jokic leading the way, the Nuggets have continued to be impressive each season as he continues to ascend as a superstar. 

With the way the Nuggets were swept this past season in the conference semifinals, expect Jokic to approach this season with more aggression. The Nuggets believed they were championship bound before the devastating injury to Jamal Murray. As the team awaits Murray’s return, Jokic will continue to dominate in his absence. Expect a stat line of 28,12,9 from Jokic along with repeating as the NBA MVP.

Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images