Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo Named 2022/23 MVP Award Finalists

• Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the finalists for the 2022/23 NBA MVP awards
• Nuggets center Jokic is looking to win his third award, and Philadelphia center Embiid is looking for his first, while Milwaukee superstar Antetokounmpo has won the award twice before
• The NBA also announced finalists for six other awards

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid, and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo are the finalists for the 2022/23 NBA MVP award.

Jokic and Antetokounmpo have won the award twice before, while Embiid is looking for his first award.

Jokic is looking to become only the fourth player to win the MVP award three times in a row and will join Hall of Famers Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell. He's had an incredible NBA season averaging a near triple-double (24.5/11.8/9.8). He led the Nuggets to the top seed in the Western Conference.

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Meanwhile, Embiid has finished second in MVP voting for the last two seasons behind Jokic. The Cameroonian averaged a league-high 33.1 points per game, per ESPN.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the best record in the NBA, averaging 31.1 points per game.

NBA announces award finalists

The NBA also announced finalists for other individual awards.

Jarren Jackson Jr, Brook Lopez, and Evan Mobley will battle it out for the Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson finished as the leader in blocks (3.0) per game.

Orlando Magic youngster Paolo Banchero, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Jalen Williams, and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler are the finalists for the Rookie of the Year award.

The Sixth Man of the Year will come down to Boston Celtics star Malcolm Brogdon, New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley and Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr.

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Jazz star Lauri Markannen, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeos-Alexander and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson will battle for the Most Improved Player award.

Jokic targets MVP 3-peat

Sports Brief recently reported on the NBA's leading MVP candidates this season. Jokic has been top of the ladder for most of the season. Embiid dislodged him in the last few months of the season, while Antetokounmpo has been lurking in the third spot.

The Nuggets All-Star is looking to win three straight MVPs and could become the first player since Larry Bird in 1986 to do so.

He is an integral part of Denver's offense, averaging a near triple-double this term. Can he lead the Nuggets to the NBA title?