Odds on Giannis Antetokounmpo as 2022 NBA MVP
Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is now an NBA champion and Finals MVP. His resume is already solidified with the greats at the age of 26. He has amassed multiple MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star MVP, and a Most Improved Player award.
There is a chance that Giannis can add to that resume. To win three MVPs will put him on a list of legendary players. This season should be another phenomenal season from Giannis, which might culminate in another MVP.
Other MVP frontrunners
Giannis is currently not the favorite to win MVP. In fact, his odds are slated as the fourth-best at +800. Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant are ahead of him.
That collective trio has only one MVP, which comes from Durant. The NBA tends to follow storylines in order to award the MVP. Each of those aforementioned three has a storyline to help their case.
Durant had an amazing run in the postseason and the Olympics. He is looked at as the potential best player in the world. Now, the Brooklyn Nets are the prohibitive favorites to win the title this upcoming season.
Luka is the prodigy of the league, and the media has been claiming he will win the MVP after his rookie season. Last year was supposed to be his year, but a slow star hurt that. Now the focus is this season for Luka to take over the NBA.
Lastly, there is Joel Embiid. Embiid was the MVP last season until an injury sidelined him for a few weeks. Some still believed that he should have won it. There is a chance that Embiid can have the same storyline as James Harden, when he missed out on the MVP in 2017, to win it the following year.
Giannis has a tough group of players he needs to compete against. There are others behind him that have a shot at winning the award. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both have a chance to take the award, while James Harden does as well. You also cannot count out the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic.
Why Giannis Will Win His 3rd MVP
Despite having the 4th-best odds to win his 3rd MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo has his sights locked in on the highest individual honor in the NBA.Giannis might not be the favorite, but he should be for a multitude of reasons. He is coming off of a playoff performance that few have ever accomplished in the modern era. It was a Shaquille O’Neal-level of dominance that we saw in the NBA Finals.
His confidence level is at a point where only the all-time greats can reach. The scary part is that he is still in the middle of his prime. He has learned things within his game that can translate to next season.
The realization of not having to force threes and bulldozing everyone in the paint is frightening for the rest of the league. Giannis was not supposed to be this great of a player, which is why it feels as though the media is scared to crown him.
He has already garnered up a bunch of accolades, including those two MVP awards. The all-time greats are in contention every season and win a multitude of MVPs. That is why it is not fair to be scared of giving him the award for the third time.
His numbers are extraordinary over the last couple of seasons. Giannis has the potential to go up to another level. That is what makes this his award to win.
We have seen the best from other candidates, but Giannis might have figured out that last piece to the puzzle. Look out for a season we have not seen in quite some time for a big man. Giannis will be MVP this season and establish himself as one of the best to play this game.
