Top Five MVP Picks for the 2023-24 NBA Season

With the All-Star Weekend all wrapped up, the focus now shifts to the fiery second half of the 2023-24 NBA season, and it cannot be denied that this has been one heck of a campaign to remember with lots of competitive teams battling for supremacy and dominance with at least 30 games left to play. Now it all comes down to the bigger picture of the MVP race as it continues to shape up.

The Race to the MVP is always something that has excited a lot of fans in the regular season, and it often revolves around the best performers on the big stage. That says a lot about the expectations and bar set by previous winners, and there are a lot of factors to consider for players to be awarded with the MVP by the end of the season.

Who is the Reigning MVP?

Joel Embiid is the current MVP in the NBA, and is actually the favorite to win the award once more if he hadn’t got injured and failed to meet the minimum number of games played to be eligible for individual season awards. The league set a minimum of 65 games to be played for players to be allowed to be considered for these awards, and All-NBA teams as well. But prior to his injury, Embiid has already six games left to miss in the season, which just means that it is inevitable that he would be out of the MVP race for good.

Embiid and the Sixers were gunning for the top spot of the Eastern Conference this season before the reigning MVP got injured, and it goes without saying that the race is now wide open with the way things are right now.

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But then the season still has a long way to go, and a lot can happen with more games left to play as MVP candidates aim to prove their worth on the big stage.

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Who Are the Top Picks to Win the MVP Award This Season?

With Embiid out of the picture, there are still plenty of high-performing players in the league who can bag the MVP award at the end of the season. The 2023-24 season has also presented some of the most elite performers on the big stage night in and night out, and a lot of surprising teams have been led by big stars to make an impact in the campaign right now.

This says a lot about selecting the best candidates who can win the MVP award, especially in betting. Lucky for you, GambleSpot has done its homework and will provide you with the best details in considering the top picks for the MVP this season. Let’s get started on that matter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s main man just enjoyed his best night as an All-Star starter for the first time in his career. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has done a great job of putting up an impressive stretch in the first half of the season, but then he has proven his worth as a leading candidate for the MVP now more than ever. SGA is averaging 31.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting a staggering 54.6% from the field. Those are impressive numbers from the NBA’s steals leader with an average of 2.2 steals per game.

Night in and night out, Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP value is being displayed in OKC’s campaign. The Thunder are doing a great job of staying at the top of the Western Conference – a game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves from securing the 1st seed.

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It all goes without saying that he is definitely carrying this bunch of 25-year-olds or younger with his impressive leadership that certainly proves why he is the MVP right now. On top of that, OKC is quite early for its anticipated “Arrival”, and a lot of that success is owed to SGA’s stardom right now.

Luka Doncic - Dallas Mavericks

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Say what you will about the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic, but he is definitely the man you can consider the MVP right now if his team was already sitting at the upper echelon of the Western Conference. Still, Doncic is the standard of efficiency and all-around impact in the NBA right now, putting up some impressive performances ever since his daughter was born. This season, Doncic has put up 34.2 points per game – a league leading mark while scoring 49.2% from the field. He also averages 8.8 assists and 9.5 assists per game this season.

What makes Doncic stand out is that he’s been able to carry an injury-riddled squad so far, and more than 12 different rotations has been tried around him.

Sure, the Mavs are not much of a team that is locked in to make it to the playoffs right now, but Doncic is starting to will this team back into the top-five mix with the newly-upgraded squad that he has right now. He is putting value in each of his teammates, which says a lot about how he is delivering a strong performance night in and night out with the Mavs.

Kawhi Leonard - Los Angeles Clippers

Let’s be clear, the only reason Kawhi Leonard is even in this list and in the MVP race is that the Los Angeles Clippers are finally back to the top of the Western Conference in a long time. On top of that, they have finally figured out the riddle for James Harden to click with the rest of the team, and it says a lot about how he has given them a helping hand to contend at the top of the West. For Leonard, however, this is just another campaign for him to be consistent on the big stage, averaging 24.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 assists.

Leonard’s value on the Clippers should not be underestimated. He is shooting above the 50/40/90 standard, and he has only missed four games this season so far, which just means that he is definitely locked in now more than ever.

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His dedication to bringing his game to the next level with the Clippers says a lot about his MVP case, and there is no denying that he deserves a shot should Los Angeles stay on the push for a 1st-seed finish. This "funny guy" is delivering a strong push for his MVP run and the Clippers' long-time championship hopes.

Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets

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The reigning Finals MVP is definitely one of the best players on the planet right now, and Nikola Jokic continues to prove that he still deserves to be the frontrunner in the MVP race. Despite the Denver Nuggets still having some tough issues right now, Jokic has been a silver lining in that stretch and has done a great job to help the defending champs stay on the prowl in a very crowded Western Conference.

With averages of 26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game, it just seems that Jokic might go off for his third MVP finish this year.

His value on the Nuggets squad this season is quite obvious – the team struggles to win games without their man in the middle, and he remains a vital part on both ends of the floor. Jokic’s importance cannot be stressed further considering how well he has managed to deliver for the team this season, but he needs to lift them up again if he is to win the MVP award once more.

Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks

The shards of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 championship has continuously grown over the years, and they have brought new upgrades to further boost their chances for another title. So far, nothing has been easy for them with their transition to a new coach in Doc Rivers. Still, Antetokounmpo is on the pace to be the first player in NBA history to average 30+ points per game while shooting more than 60% from the field.

Giannis has averaged 30.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. His 61.6% shooting from the field is a career-high, and he is continuously dropping massive numbers down the stretch.

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Still, there is more to expect from Antetokounmpo and the Bucks as they look to bounce back from their 3-7 start under Rivers. Milwaukee securing the second seed is likely to result in Giannis winning the MVP as well – improving his case further. Like what he said in his end-of-season interview, "sometimes its your turn, sometimes its not your turn", and this may be his turn again.

What to Expect from the MVP Picks in the Second Half of the Season?

The Race to the MVP picks up pace with the second half of the season brewing hot. That just means that there is going to be a lot of explosive performances and huge show-offs from the top candidates for the MVP this season. From leading their respective teams back into the playoff mix all the way to setting records and career-highs, there should be no shortage of massive star displays down the stretch. Stay tuned for more NBA action and find out if your favorite player can bag the MVP award by the end of the season!