Kofi Inkoom
Joel Embiid’s bid for a consecutive MVP award could be in jeopardy due to missed games and the stellar performances of his rivals, such as Nikola Jokic of Nuggets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the OKC Thunder.
Despite Embiid’s dominance throughout the season, highlighted by his incredible 70-point game against San Antonio on Jan. 22, several leading sports betting platforms have shifted their favor towards Jokic over Embiid in the 2024 NBA MVP odds market.
Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander remains a persistent threat to both big men’s MVP aspirations.
A new rule introduced at the beginning of this season, as part of the updated collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, stipulates that players must participate in a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for prestigious league awards like MVP and All-NBA.
As per Bovada’s current assessments, Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic stands as the frontrunner to clinch the MVP accolade this season, with Gilgeous-Alexander closely trailing behind.
Joel Embiid is no longer the favorite to win the MVP after his odds dropped from +200 to +2500 on @BovadaOfficial
Nikola Jokic: -125
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: +300
Luka Doncic: +500
Giannis Antetokounmpo: +700
Joel Embiid: +2500
Jayson Tatum: +4000
Anthony Edwards: +10000… pic.twitter.com/xue4VyeQ3U— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 1, 2024
Are there exceptions to the 65-game rule?
According to the CBA, there’s one special case. A player [ say Damian Lillard ] can still be eligible for awards if they played in at least 62 regular-season games, had a season-ending injury, and played in at least 85% of their team’s games before the injury.
The purpose of the new rule is to ensure that some of the best players are on the court as much as possible to keep the game engaging and to honor the spectators who have paid hundreds of dollars to watch their favorite stars.
Despite criticism from players like Tyrese Halliburton of the Pacers and Draymond Green of the Warriors, the NBA has remained silent on the matter. Whether this rule is beneficial or detrimental to the league will become evident after the awards are presented.
The In-Season tournament faced heavy criticism before its introduction, but both fans and basketball players eventually liked it [ except the courts ]. Perhaps this new rule is another instance where initial skepticism gives way to appreciation over time.