For more than a decade now, DNA of Sports has been offering you its Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”, now called “Michael Jordan Trophy”.
This week, it’s hard not to dwell on the file Zion Williamsonmonstrous for fifteen days, while the Pelicans accumulate victories (seven in a row) and have taken control in the West!
A first place that New Orleans owns by a short head ahead of the Grizzlies, led by a certain Ja Morant. A little less in the light compared to last season, he nevertheless continues to deliver solid performances and to be among the favorites for the title of MVP, after finishing 7th in the ballot in 2022.
Both from the 2019 Draft, would Zion Williamson and Ja Morant be putting their mark on the NBA, three years after their arrival in the league? While it’s probably still a little early to put it forward, they are in any case starting to win a lot with their team, in addition to remaining among the very best in their position (when their health allows them).
What can they imagine a future with an MVP trophy under their arm, if NOLA and Memphis continue their momentum until April?
Counter soon to be unlocked for New Orleans or Memphis?
In the event of the coronation of Zion Williamson or Ja Morant, it would also be the first time that a player from the Pelicans (ex-Hornets) or the Grizzlies has added his name to the list of winners of this distinction. But these are obviously not the only franchises to never have triumphed at this level, since there are currently six others: the Hornets, the Magic, the Nets, the Pacers, the Pistons and the Raptors.
Far, far behind the Celtics, the team that has most often seen one of its members receive the “Maurice Podoloff Trophy”, or should we now say the “Michael Jordan Trophy”.
Franchises with the most MVP titles
10 – Celtics
8 –Lakers
6 – Bulls, Sixers
5 – Bucks
4 -Rockets
3 – Spurs, Suns, Warriors
2 – Cavaliers, Hawks, Heat, Jazz, Nuggets, Thunder
1 – Blazers, Clippers, Kings, Knicks, Mavericks, Wizards, Wolves
0 – Grizzlies, Hornets, Magic, Nets, Pacers, Pelicans, Pistons, Raptors
If Zion Williamson or Ja Morant were to be elected MVP in 2023 (or even in the future), it would in any case be a nice snub sent to the big markets, because remember that Memphis and New Orleans are the cities which, according to Forbes includes the two “lowest” valued franchises in the NBA, with the Grizzlies at $1.65 billion and the Pelicans at $1.6 billion, respectively.
The famous Draft system, specific to North American sports, therefore works rather well on this one, because two teams unaccustomed to making headlines and winning individual or collective awards are clearly positioned among those with a future of more radiant.
Largely thanks to Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, who today look like serious underdogs for the 2023 MVP trophy…
Race to the MVP 2023: our Top 5
1 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 21 wins, 7 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 27 disputed out of 28 possible.
Statistics: 29.7 pts, 8.2 reb, 4.0 pds, 1.1 int, 1.0 ctr and 2.7 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 47% on shots, 36% at 3-pts and 86% on throws.
2 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 19 wins, 7 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 22 disputed out of 26 possible.
Statistics: 31.1 pts, 11.3 reb, 5.4 pds, 0.9 int, 1.0 ctr and 3.8 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 54% on shots, 27% at 3-pts and 63% on throws.
3 – Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Assessment: 14 wins, 13 losses – 8th in the West.
Matches: 25 disputed out of 27 possible.
Statistics: 33.1 pts, 8.6 reb, 8.8 pds, 1.7 int, 0.6 ctr and 3.6 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 50% on shots, 34% on 3-pts and 72% on throws.
4 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 16 wins, 10 losses – 3rd in the West.
Matches: 23 disputed out of 26 possible.
Statistics: 23.8 pts, 10.1 reb, 9.1 pds, 1.2 int, 0.7 ctr and 3.3 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 62% shooting, 32% 3-pt and 80% throwing.
5a – Ja Morant (Grizzlies)
Assessment: 18 wins, 9 losses – 2nd in the West.
Matches: 22 disputed out of 27 possible.
Statistics: 27.7 pts, 6.6 reb, 7.8 pds, 1.2 int, 0.3 ctr and 2.8 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 46% on shots, 36% at 3-pts and 74% on throws.
5b – Kevin Durant (Nets)
Assessment: 17 wins, 12 losses – 4th in the East.
Matches: 28 disputed out of 29 possible.
Statistics: 30.0 pts, 6.7 reb, 5.5 pds, 0.7 int, 1.7 ctr and 3.4 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 56% on shots, 35% at 3-pts and 92% on throws.
Mentions Devin Booker (Suns), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), Joel Embiid (Sixers), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Damian Lillard (Blazers)…
