Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has expressed his belief that Giannis Antetokounmpo is suffering from what he terms “voter fatigue” in the race for the MVP award.
“I don’t even want to get into it, but there’s been guys that you get tired of voting for,” Rivers shared with reporters on Friday. “Michael [Jordan] may be the poster child of that. And Giannis seems to be in that category; where you’re so good, everything you do is taken for granted. When you just look at his numbers, they’re incredible, and yet, you never hear his name. It’s unbelievable, but that’s a sign of respect more than disrespect in some ways.”
While there’s an argument to be made for Jordan’s dominance during his prime years with the Chicago Bulls, it’s worth noting that he still managed to secure the MVP award five times, a feat tied with Bill Russell for the second-most all-time, just behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s six.
As for Antetokounmpo’s visibility in the MVP conversation, it’s a matter up for debate. Presently, he holds the third spot on the NBA.com MVP ladder behind Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Antetokounmpo clinched the award in back-to-back seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and finished third in the voting over the past two seasons.
Since his initial MVP win in 2018-19, the conversation around the award has largely revolved around Antetokounmpo, Jokić, and Joel Embiid, each making compelling cases for themselves.
However, this season appears to be more open, with players like Jayson Tatum and Luka Dončić also vying for the top spot. Had Embiid not faced injuries affecting his eligibility, he would have undoubtedly been a contender as well.
A brief overview of the top five MVP contenders illustrates the strength of their performances:
Jokić: Averages 25.8 PPG (14th), 12.3 RPG (fourth), and 9.3 APG (fourth), boasting a 31.42 player efficiency rating (second), with the Denver Nuggets ranking third in the West (41-19).
Gilgeous-Alexander: Averages 31.2 PPG (second), 6.5 APG (14th), and holds a 30.71 PER (third), with the Oklahoma City Thunder ranking second in the West (41-18).
Antetokounmpo: Averages 30.8 PPG (third), 11.3 RPG (sixth), and 6.3 APG (tied 16th), with a 30.22 PER (fourth), as the Bucks hold the third spot in the East (40-21).
Tatum: Averages 27.1 PPG (ninth), 8.5 RPG (tied 23rd), and 4.8 APG (tied 45th), with a 22.43 PER (18th), while the Boston Celtics lead with a 47-12 record.
Dončić: Averages 34.5 PPG (first), 8.9 RPG (19th), and 9.7 APG (third), with a 28.98 PER (fifth), as the Dallas Mavericks hold the eighth spot in the West (34-26).
The question remains whether there’s a clear standout among these contenders. Each presents a strong case for consideration, showcasing diverse strengths.
Giannis remains a prominent contender if he maintains his current level of performance. However, should he not clinch the award, it would likely reflect the presence of several deserving candidates rather than mere voter fatigue.
