2022 NBA MVP Regular Season Predictions, Betting Odds, Picks

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• Check out our predictions for who will win the 2022 NBA Most Valuable Player Award!
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The 2022 NBA season is in full swing and fans and bettors alike are savoring the excitement that comes with it! Now back to a full 82-game schedule, the NBA is having one of its most competitive seasons ever. Leading the way for all of these contenders are a special batch of players in the running for the Most Valuable Player Award.

2022 NBA Most Valuable Player Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook, updated on February 28, 2022

For the past two years, preceding the pandemic altered schedule, the NBA regular season MVP has been named at the annual NBA Awards award show. Presented by the NBA in partnership with Turner Sports, the NBA Awards were held in late-June after the NBA Playoffs. Since the 1980-1981 NBA Season, a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from across the United States and Canada has decided the NBA MVP Award winner.

The winner of the 2022 NBA MVP Award will be the 67th winner in history. The award is expected to be given upon the conclusion of the NBA regular season.

It isn’t just about individual accomplishment for a player to be named MVP. Team success, the ability to improve teammates and overall star-like qualities will always help someone’s case.

Let’s answer some of the most important questions about the NBA MVP Award.

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Who is the Favorite to Win the NBA MVP in 2022?

(C) Joel Embiid – 7-0, 280 lb (213 cm, 127 kg) – Cameroon

JOEL EMBIID DUNK OF THE YEAR, NO QUESTIONS ASKED | @Wendys pic.twitter.com/KkcY6abCMu

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 13, 2022

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has been in the running for NBA Most Valuable Player for a number of years now. However with how he’s performed despite Philadelphia’s dysfunctions as a team, Embiid looks to be the favorite.

The Cameroonian star is averaging a career high in points and assists at 29.3 and 4.5 respectively. Always a beast on the boards, Embiid is averaging 11.1 rebounds while also collecting an average of 1.5 blocks per game.

Considering Philadelphia’s acquisition of star guard and former MVP James Harden, we’ll find out if Embiid can remain in award-winning form. If he can’t and his production dips, there are a number of players ready to pry the league’s most prestigious individual prize away from him.

Who was the 2021 NBA MVP?

Jokic receives his MVP award in Denver 🏆

(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/0kyZtksybB

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 12, 2021

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets won his first NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2021. Jokic is the lowest drafted player to ever win MVP, having been drafted 41st overall in 2014.

In his MVP-winning season, Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. He led his team to 3rd in the Western Conference with a record of 47-25, but the Nuggets were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Jokic won the 2021 NBA MVP Award by a landslide, having accumulated 91 first place votes. The Nuggets big man had a final tally of 971 points, compared to second place’s Joel Embiid’s points total of 586.

NBA MVP by Year

Does the NBA MVP Receive A Prize?

The winner of the NBA MVP Award doesn’t receive a prize per se. They are awarded the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, but in terms of cash incentives or bonuses, there are none.

It is written in many players’ team contracts that they receive a bonus upon receiving the award, but that is subject to the terms of the team agreement and not the NBA organization.

In a less direct sense, the NBA MVP in the current climate would be awarded much more exposure, the opportunity for endorsements, and nationally broadcasted matches for his team. The truest prize for the NBA MVP Award winner is the fact that their name is written in history as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Is the NBA MVP Determined by Fan Vote?

No, fans of the NBA do not have a say in who will be awarded the NBA MVP. Unlike All-Star voting, the NBA MVP Award is voted upon by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters across the United States and Canada.

Fan votes are reserved for the NBA All-Star Game, where they make up 50% of the total. Votes by current NBA players and a panel of media members account for 25% each.

The voting process for the NBA MVP Award is as follows: Media members are allowed to award a player of their choice a “vote” ranked from first-place, worth ten-points, to fifth-place, worth one point. The player with the highest points total wins the award.

Has There Ever Been a Unanimous MVP?

In 2015-2016, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. It was the first time in history that a player was unanimously voted the NBA MVP. A unanimous vote means that among the voting parties, Curry received all available votes.

Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 and LeBron James in 2013 fell one vote short of a unanimous MVP selection.

When Will the NBA MVP Award Winner be Announced?

The NBA MVP Award is usually announced during the NBA Awards show in mid-to-late June. Due to adjusted schedules and social distancing protocols, the award has gone unclaimed for longer than ever before.

There is no set date for when the award winners will be announced. However, with the NBA schedule now in place fans can expect to see the MVP named soon after the scheduled date for Game 7 of the NBA Finals (if necessary) – Tuesday, October 13.

Who Won the First NBA MVP Award?

The first-ever winner of the NBA MVP was forward-center Bob Pettit in 1956, who played for the now-defunct St. Louis Hawks.

Pettit, an LSU alumnus and the second overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft, won the NBA MVP Award in just his second season in the NBA. He proceeded to win the award again in 1958, when he led the St. Louis Hawks to the NBA Championship.

Bob Pettit was the original interior presence in the NBA. Pettit’s career stats are up there with the best of all-time. His career averages of 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 43.6% shooting from the field justify his hall of fame place.

Which Position Wins the Most MVP Awards?

Position in the NBA has a fluid definition over the course of NBA history. As times have changed, styles have changed. As such certain players were highlighted in eras where they wouldn’t have been in others. The positional success of players in relation to the MVP award greatly represents this.

Point Guard (11)

Winners: Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook

The point guard position is tied for second as the most successful NBA position at winning the MVP Award. Defined by their ability to distribute the ball, point guards are largely responsible for the success of their team. Generally talented in accumulating assists, players like Steve Nash, Bob Cousy, and Magic Johnson wowed fans and critics with their ability to lift the play of their teammates.

Newer stars like Stephen Curry and Derrick Rose added to the primary playmaking responsibilities of the point guard by becoming elite scorers. Their ability to distribute as well as score at will drove the success of their squads and garnered them votes.

In a league of their own, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook are the only two players to average a triple-double in a season – separated by 53 years. The two were terrors across the court, dangerous from every position and transcendent to the game of basketball.

Shooting Guard (8)

Winners: Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, James Harden

The least successful position at winning the NBA MVP, shooting guards that have won the honor have been defined by their positional namesake. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are two of the league’s best-ever scorers and the success of their teams was built around them.

While Allen Iverson failed to win an NBA Championship, the diminutive guard’s ability to score was transcendent for a player of his size. James Harden is also one of the league’s most creative scorers, breaking records set by his predecessors and ushering in a score-first mentality not seen since Bryant.

Small Forward (9)

Winners: Julius Irving, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Kevin Durant

The Small Forward position has been defined by the do-it-all nature of its players. Scoring, defending, playmaking, rebounding, these players could truly do it all.

There has been a rise in the use of small forwards in recent history, as skill level has increased greatly. Julius Irving and Larry Bird were excellent scorers in their own way and filled the stat sheet every night.

The entry of LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo into the fold defined an almost new position. Small forwards in body, but point guards in ability, these two dominate opponents on each end of the court. With little drawback to their game.

Don’t forget a player with the skill of Kevin Durant though. Durant may not be the playmaker, rebounder, or defender that these other winners are, but Durant shows that in the game of basketball scoring is still paramount. 6-11 with a monstrous wingspan and a feathery shooting touch, Durant is one of the best scorers of all time.

Power Forward (11)

Winners: Bob Pettit, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki

The power forward position is one that took a long time to see growth. Size matters in the NBA whether it is in terms of height or strength. Power forwards like Bob Pettit, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone were excellent scorers in the low post. Barkley, being of smaller stature, showed off guard-like skills while Malone benefitted from fantastic interplay with his teammates.

Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are more famed for their defensive intensity. The two could not be more opposite in terms of their personality, but their contributions on the court are immense. The two NBA Champions’ ability on the defensive side defined their team’s success, on top of their ability to score.

Dirk Nowitzki was the first of his like in the NBA. A lank, seven-footer from Germany made his name on the perimeter rather than in the post. While criticised early in his career, Nowitzki’s uniqueness made him the most unguardable player in his prime.

Center (27)

Remember when we said size matters in the NBA? The center position epitomizes that. It is by far the most successful position in terms of winning the NBA MVP Award, doubling its closest competitor as of 2022.

An easy basket nearest to the rim is what coaches want and when you tout the sheer size, skill, and strength of Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar there are few, if any, that can stop them.

As the last defense for an NBA team, the center position is also saddled with responsibility should his teammates fail. Bill Russell, Wes Unseld, and Moses Malone showed that stopping a team from scoring or getting second chances was as valuable as scoring the ball.

Centers used to define the game of basketball, but the direction of the game has changed to the perimeter and its been seen in the NBA MVP winners list. Despite having the most winners by position, the last time a center won NBA MVP was 2000.

Has a Rookie Ever Won NBA MVP?

Yes! Two players have achieved the tremendous accomplishment of winning MVP as a rookie. Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960 and Wes Unseld of the Baltimore Bullets in 1969.

It speaks to the overall skill level of the NBA that the feat has yet to be accomplished again in over 50 years.

Who Is the Youngest/Oldest Ever NBA MVP?

The youngest player to win the NBA MVP award was Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. At just 22 years old, the Chicagoan led his hometown Bulls to 62 wins and the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Averaging 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, and 6.3 offensive box plus/minus, Rose was near unstoppable at the top of his game. Unfortunately, Rose’s career stalled due to injuries and re-injury.

The oldest ever NBA MVP was Karl Malone, who won the award at 35 years old. The power forward is one of the best scorers to ever play the game, as he averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 50.9% shooting from the field in his MVP season.

Surprisingly, Malone was not named an All-Star during his MVP year.

Who Has Won the Most NBA MVP Awards?

The winner of the most NBA MVP awards in history is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He won the award six times (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980) over the course of his career, to go along with a number of other incredible basketball accomplishments.

Not only did Abdul-Jabbar win five of nine available MVP Awards during the seventies, he is also a six-time NBA Champion. Surprisingly, Abdul-Jabbar won the most valuable player award only twice when the year coincided with him winning an NBA Championship.

Which NBA Franchises Have Won the Most NBA MVPs?

Which NBA Franchises Have Never Won an MVP Award?

There are nine different NBA franchises that have failed to produce an NBA MVP winner.

1. Brooklyn Nets
2. Charlotte Hornets
3. Detroit Pistons
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Orlando Magic
8. Toronto Raptors

Despite some fantastic individual seasons for players in these clubs, they are still looking for an MVP performance. The time could come sooner than thee teams expect!

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