NBA MVP rankings: Nikola Jokic deserves to win, but Luka Doncic should be getting stronger consideration

April 8, 2022 World Sports

The 2021-22 NBA MVP race has a chance to wind up as the closest finish since 2004-05, when Steve Nash won with 65 first-place votes to Shaquille O’Neal’s 58. There’s not much to say about the top three candidates that hasn’t already been said. Nikola Jokic has emerged as the betting favorite, and if I had a vote, it would indeed go to Jokic.

But, man, is this tight. There is no wrong vote as long as it’s going to Jokic, Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo. I believe that. As long as one of those three wins, and the other two finish second and third, it will be just (but I will say it’s perplexing that this isn’t a Big Four conversation that includes Luka Doncic among the main contenders, but we’ll get to that).

Ultimately, opinions will differ as to the order, but the top four I have listed here should be pretty iron clad. The fifth spot is up for grabs. As I said, my first-place vote would go to Jokic. Here are my final MVP rankings for the 2021-22 season.

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics