Despite his ever-increasing history of injuries, Anthony Davis has looked much like his old self this season. The Lakers have struggled to build a competent contender around Davis and LeBron, but the Brow has done his part with dominant interior scoring and elite rim protection.
Joel Embiid is on track for what could be his third consecutive second-place finish in MVP voting. Brutal, but also a genuine complement: he’s definitively one of the handful of best players in the sport. Possessing a singular blend of power and finesse on the offensive end, defenders face a virtually impossible task when asked to guard Embiid straight up. On the other end, he ranks among the top defensive anchors in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic is currently on track to make history with his third straight MVP trophy. The Nuggets’ center ever-so-slightly edges out Embiid here due to his historic efficiency and playmaking acumen on the offensive end. Nobody can carry a roster quite like Jokic, and he’s a beast on the boards for good measure.
76ers’ Joel Embiid falling behind in MVP straw poll
A recent ESPN straw poll paints a picture of the current NBA MVP race, with the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid lagging behind.