It is expected that Joel Embiid will be crowned NBA MVP for the first time in his career after a stunning season - and the early votes suggest he could win in a landslide.
After averaging 33 points per game and leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the Playoffs, Embiid is the clear favourite to be crowned MVP, denying Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic of the three-peat. Jokic has won the award two seasons running, after Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo also won the award back-to-back.
Embiid has been critical of the award criteria after missing out in recent years, but he was an overwhelming favourite before Monday's voting deadline, being priced as high as 1/10 before the market closed. Some votes have already been counted, and Embiid is clearly leading the way over Jokic and Antetokounmpo.
The NBA MVP award is voted upon by a panel of 100 media members, who rank their candidates from first to fifth. The deadline for the upcoming MVP voting was Monday night, and some media members have already confirmed who they chose for their picks.
Last season, Jokic received 65 first-place votes while Embiid trailed with just 26. However, this could easily be reversed this year, judging by how the early confirmed votes have gone.
Twenty-two votes have been counted out of the pool of 100, and Embiid has already been selected first by 15 of the judging panel. Current MVP holder Jokic has only received three votes, while Antetokounmpo has picked up four.
Big names in the media world such as Stephen A Smith, Bill Simmons and Mike Greenberg have already confirmed their votes. And while they may disagree with some sporting topics, all four have sided with Embiid as the standout winner this season.
Embiid has been the favourite for most of 2023, but his odds skyrocketed after dropping a 52-point game against NBA Championship rivals Boston Celtics. To help his cause even further, the Nuggets lost against Houston Rockets the same night, with Jokic in the side.
"The man just scored half of our points in an NBA game," 76ers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the game. "And I'm biased, but the MVP race is over."
It certainly looks as though Rivers is right, unless there is an almighty swing in the remaining 78 votes yet to be counted. But Embiid deserves it this year, and he'll be hoping to end the 40-year wait for a 76ers Championship win.
2023 confirmed votes so far
Embiid: Stephen A Smith, Mike Wilbon, Mike Greenberg, Zach Lowe, Jalen Rose (all ESPN), Melissa Rohlin (FOX), Rich Bucher (FS1), Keith Pompey (Philadelphia Inquirer), Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo (both The Ringer), Dan Devine (Yahoo), Jared Greenberg (Turner), Kurt Helin (NBC), Howard Beck (GQ), Maxime Aubin (L'Equipe).
Antetokounmpo: Kendrick Perkins, JJ Redick (both ESPN), Bill Reiter (CBS), Kevin O'Connor (The Ringer).
Jokic: Michael Pina (The Ringer), Kevin Pelton (ESPN), Chris Fedor (Cleveland.com).
