The 2021-22 NBA season gets underway on Tuesday night with a doubleheader on TNT.
That opening night doubleheader (Nets vs. Bucks) and (Lakers vs. Warriors) will feature three of our top five candidates for the award.
KD In The Place To Be
Kevin Durant only played 35 games last season due to injuries. But he showed everyone why he’s the best player in the world in the NBA playoffs as he nearly single-handedly carried the Brooklyn Nets past the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks.
He averaged 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists while also shooting a sizzling 40 percent from deep. The Nets will need him to play like an MVP with the services of Kyrie Irving still very much in doubt. If Durant’s shoe size was a half-foot smaller the Bucks would’ve been eliminated in the second round.
Greek Freak
The summer of Giannis Antetokounmpo was one for the ages. The dominant two-way big man led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971. He was named Finals MVP and even dropped a “fiddy piece” in the Game 6 clincher. During the offseason he became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The former two-time NBA MVP and DPOY has his sights set on a repeat. In order to accomplish that, Greek Freak will have to dominate on both ends. During the regular season Giannis averaged 28.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists, while shooting a very respectable 56 percent from the floor. Those averages jumped to 35.2, 13.2 and 6.0 during “Cream City’s” magical run to the chip.
Chef Curry
Last season, Steph Curry carried the Golden State Warriors to the brink of the playoffs, losing in the play-in game. Curry averaged 32.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists, while being constantly double and triple-teamed. He shot 48 percent from the floor and an insane 42% from the land of three.
Curry will have to shoulder the load again, but with an improved supporting cast, due to the signings of some quality free agents. The play of Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and James Wiseman should improve after a season of developing chemistry.
Klay Thompson’s expected return after a two-year hiatus due to injury should be a welcome sight for Curry and Dubs. Curry has been in his bag during preseason and looks ready for an MVP campaign.
Cool Hand Luk
Mark Cuban has a knack for finding franchise players from other countries. For 21 seasons Dirk Nowitzki carried the Dallas Mavericks, even leading them to their only NBA title in 2011. He retired in 2019, but in the 2018 NBA draft they landed his successor in Luka Doncic.
All Doncic has done is take the league by storm with his elite all-around skill set. He’s been in the top three of preseason MVP predictions the last two seasons only to see his team fall short in the win category. Doncic has led the Mavs to back-to-back playoff appearances. He and new coach Jason Kidd should be a match made in playoff heaven.
Yoke The Joker
The reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is a basketball unicorn. Last season the Nuggets lost star guard Jamal Murray to a torn ACL with 25 games left in the season.
"I'd rather nobody knows me than everybody knows me."
– Nikola Jokic
(via @NBABlackburn) pic.twitter.com/DI13cbDLUh
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 25, 2021
The “Joker” proceeded to ramp up production in every category and led the team to a 17-8 record, with a 31/10/4 split without the team’s second-best player. Now everyone knows who this international sensation is. With no definite timetable for Murray’s return, it’s highly plausible the Serbian big-man could go back-to-back. He will carry a heavy load.
