Steph reveals which NBA star he’d pick to win MVP award originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
As the 2022-23 NBA season approaches the finish line, the MVP race is neck and neck.
While fans and pundits around the league continue to weigh in on the MVP conversation, Warriors guard Steph Curry, a two-time winner of the award and the only player in history to win the award unanimously, gave his pick on this year’s award.
“I would say Joel [Embiid],” Curry told Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. “Any person you pick, their body of work could be compared to [Nikola] Jokić or Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. But Joel took a leap that I think a lot of people didn’t expect because he was dominant already.
“That leap turned heads and put [the Philadelphia 76ers] in a great position. If I had to pick, it would be him.”
Curry’s longtime teammate and Warriors veteran leader Draymond Green had a similar outlook on who should win the award.
“As far as the MVP race goes, I think over the last couple of weeks, Joel started to create some separation and he’s done a good job of that,” Green said after the Warriors’ 120-112 win over the 76ers on March 24. “His team continues to win — wasn’t able to get a win tonight — but the team continues to win and his play has gotten better and better.”
Embiid is averaging 33.0 points on 54.2 percent shooting — a career-high for both — 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 62 games this season. His efforts have helped the 76ers maintain a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference since mid-January.
A six-time All-Star, the 7-foot center never has won the award over the course of his nine-year NBA career.
As of Monday afternoon, Philadelphia holds a 51-27 record with four regular-season contests remaining. The 76ers face the second-place Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets during the final week, and how Embiid and the 76ers close out the season could be telling of his MVP campaign.
Embiid’s main competition is Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic, who continues strengthening his case for a third consecutive MVP award. The Joker is averaging 24.9 points on 63.4 percent shooting, 11.9 rebounds and 9.9 assists, and leads the league in triple-doubles with 25.
Milwaukee Bucks phenom Giannis Antetokounmpo also has a strong case, averaging 31.1 points on 55.3 percent shooting, 11.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists as he has helped the Bucks surge to first place in the dominant Eastern Conference and the NBA’s best record.
With so much talent in the NBA on full display this season, everyone’s ultimate goal is bringing home the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June. That includes Curry and the defending champion Warriors, too.