Who Really Deserves MVP? Breaking Down the League’s Biggest Debate

Every year, the NBA MVP is a controversial topic, and this year has already started heated debates as the award is about to be announced. This year highlights three amazing candidates who all have a case to win.

Nikola Jokic is in the MVP race for his sixth consecutive season, with three wins. This is the third year in a row for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and he is looking to be the 14th player to win the MVP two years in a row. The last candidate is the young superstar and current DPOY winner Victor Wembanyama, looking for his first MVP win.

All three players have great cases to win the MVP. Jokic is the first player ever to lead the league in rebounds and assists in the same season. Shai was the second-leading scorer and led his team to the best record in the NBA with his second-best player gone half of the year, and Wembanyama is the first-ever unanimous DPOY, leading his Spurs from 34 wins to 62.

I love seeing athletes win their first MVP, and I think that late in the season, Wembanyama made a strong case for himself for the award. Jokic has been doing things no one has ever seen for years now and is still breaking records every year while averaging a triple-double again. However, I think Shai will be the winner, as his team is clearly the best in the NBA, and his offensive brilliance will lead to his second MVP.

Shai had the second-highest individual offensive rating this year of 133.6 with an effective field goal percentage of 59.7%. Averaging 31 points per game on high-volume shots and being so efficient makes Shai one of the scariest offensive players we've ever seen. The Thunder have the deepest roster in the league, but Shai's offensive ability elevates their offense to the highest rating this season, 127.6. There is also a significant drop in the Thunder's offensive rating when Shai is off the floor to 114.9, highlighting his impact.

People often talk about the defensive side of the ball when arguing against Shai to win the MVP. No one is saying he has the defensive ability of Wembanyama, but he is not a liability at all. The Thunder have the 6th-best defensive rating this year, and Shai himself had a 108.7 rating, which is elite for a high-volume guard. He also averaged 1.4 steals per game and held his opponents to under 45% from the field.

If I had a vote, I would give the award to Wembanyama. His impact on defense has never been seen before, and he can do everything on offense. He has been one of the best players in the league on low minutes. However, I think Shai will win the MVP, and it won't be a robbery as he has the stats and the year to back it up.