NBA MVP Prospects: With the best players in the league preparing to perform on the biggest platform, the 2023–24 NBA season is sure to be an incredible basketball spectacle. With less than a week until tip-off, fans and analysts alike are excitedly awaiting the competition for the coveted Most Valuable Player title. This post will examine the top 10 NBA MVP prospects for the next season.
The 2023–24 NBA season, which has both established superstars and up-and-coming young talent, promises an exciting MVP race that will enthral basketball fans worldwide. The following list of 10 NBA MVP prospects for the next campaign is ordered by expected effect and team performance. Even though the majority of these players are excellent, only one guy will be able to bring home the title.
Top 10 NBA MVP Prospects for 2023–2024
1. Nikola Jokic
Joel Embiid took home the MVP trophy last year, thus, Nikola Jokic was not able to become the first player since Larry Bird to win three consecutive; however, it doesn’t mean he won’t be returning for his third trophy altogether. Jokic had the most influence of any player last season, as the Denver Nuggets emerged as NBA champions at the end of the campaign.
In 2024, it won’t be an easy task for Denver to repeat as champions since the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Phoenix Suns improved tremendously. But Jokic will likely average around the same stats as he did the previous season—24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game—during the regular season and will be the front-runner for the coveted MVP title.
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2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Damian Lillard joined the Greek Freak this summer, adding significant strength to the team. The Milwaukee Bucks are a combination made in heaven, and without a question, they have the most terrifying tandem in the NBA. Although Lillard will undoubtedly deduct some votes from Antetokounmpo, it won’t be sufficient to remove the two-time MVP from the top three.
With Lillard by his side, Giannis will have a fantastic all-around season built on defence, efficiency, and a dedication to victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team’s top player, will probably lead the Bucks to at least 60 victories and put the other teams on notice that he wants to win a second title. In terms of MVP odds, he is somewhat behind one player, nevertheless.
3. Luka Doncic
When will Luka Doncic be named the MVP? That is the question since it is unclear if he will receive that honour this coming season, but it is something he will eventually carry. Even if Kyrie Irving is with the Mavericks, the Slovenian is still a triple-double danger and, on his own, maybe the most valuable player for an NBA team at this very moment.
Doncic is probably going to shoot for a triple-double once more, but his team record may hurt him in the MVP race. It seems unlikely that the Dallas Mavericks, who only won 38 games the previous season and lost the play-in tournament, can manage to add 20 more wins to their record in 2024. This might indicate that although Luka doesn’t win MVP, he will come very close.
4. Jayson Tatum
The star player in Boston is Jayson Tatum, who will become even more effective with the acquisition of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Tatum can play his style of play, which is based on crisp shooting and a deep bag when it comes to scoring the ball, without always forcing the issue offensively. Dominance on defence is what Tatum needs to truly step up his game.
Tatum possesses the physical attributes necessary to be a top defensive player, and Jrue Holiday, like Marcus Smart before him, will mentor him in that area. Tatum will receive enough MVP votes to at least challenge the three players in front of him in the race if he keeps up his improving all-around play and the Celtics win at least 60 games, as anticipated.
5. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid ranks second in the world when it comes to pure dominance by large men. One of the league’s top two-way players, he has two scoring titles under his belt and was named MVP of the previous year. That implies that even if James Harden stops passing the ball to the Philadelphia 76ers star, he will still be a contender for the MVP award.
Embiid is just too powerful to be disregarded in talks about MVP contenders, even if the team does not win as many games as they did the season before. If the Cameroonian player in the NBA today keeps scoring at least thirty points each game, which is an incredible feat, he will be voted in the top five for MVP.
6. Devin Booker
Three All-Stars in their prime play for the Phoenix Suns, but Devin Booker is the team’s star player. Because of his age and the fact that he has spent all eight of his career playing in Phoenix, he is now the most capable. In addition to being familiar with the place and culture, he attended the NBA Finals during the 2020–21 season. As a result, should the Suns succeed, he will receive the majority of the MVP votes.
Given their calibre of players, it is anticipated that the Suns will do well. But defensive ambiguities and a lack of depth may resurface and hurt Phoenix at the conclusion of the season, which might mean that Booker doesn’t receive the necessary number of MVP votes to secure the trophy. In addition, Kevin Durant is going to pilfer some votes.
7. Anthony Davis
Although he won’t play as many as the 82 games he has claimed he wants to, Anthony Davis will play 65. Considering his whole résumé, the big man appears to have had enough of his unfavourable reputation as an injury-prone great that is impeding his legacy. The biography of one of the greatest big men of all time shouldn’t be told by his eight All-Star and four All-NBA selections.
Instead, given his young age of thirty, Davis has the potential to be a consistent MVP contender each and every season coming ahead. The big man will be actively involved in MVP discussions if Davis plays 65 games, which we believe he will. However, having LeBron James by his side will surely take away some of his votes, even if they aren’t necessarily going to The King.
8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s excellent scoring ability, along with his natural quickness, made him virtually unstoppable last season. Without the luxury of Chet Holmgren by his side, the All-Star and All-NBA First-Team player scored a career-high 31.4 points per game in the previous season. There will be reinforcements in 2024.
Consequently, rather of settling for a play-in position, expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to win at least 40 games and contend for a definite postseason seeding. Shai leads the squad in skill, so it stands to reason that the 25-year-old will garner some significant MVP votes at the conclusion of the regular season.
9. Kawhi Leonard
Hopefully, Kawhi Leonard will be in good health for the next campaign. Because of his abilities on the court and the way his teammates complement his style of play, he possesses all the physical and cerebral capabilities necessary to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a championship. Every year the Clippers have had a chance to win the championship, but Leonard’s inability to remain healthy has been the problem.
Kawhi, who ranks among the best 10 players in the world when he plays, will be mentioned as the MVP if he stays healthy and participates in at least 65 games. As we continue to watch to see whether James Harden may be added, we anticipate that Leonard will eventually play 65 games for the first season since 2016–17 with the San Antonio Spurs. That speaks well for a squad that also boasts major players like Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
10. De’Aaron Fox
If De’Aaron Fox can build on a fantastic 2023 season and genuinely stay one of the league’s best clutch players, he will have a serious shot at being included in the MVP debate. With his confidence through the roof and a career-high 25.0 points and 6.1 assists per game average, the quick point guard was hard for defences to contain.
Even though Fox’s chances of earning MVP are slim, he will still garner some votes if he can guide the Sacramento Kings to a strong top-three Western seeding in 2024. Fox has yet to reach a point where he will be nearly impossible to stop when he has the ball, so it will be interesting to see whether he can shoot more than 32% from three.
So these are the top 10 NBA MVP Prospects for 2023–2024. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
