Nikola Jokic winning his fourth Most Valuable Player award? He’s the top choice among a panel of ESPN Insiders to capture the league’s top individual honor next season. Luka Doncic ranks as the second choice with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting the third-most votes.
The panel also offers their predictions on five other major awards, including Rookie of the Year (no surprise, they picked No. 1 draft choice Cooper Flagg) and Sixth Man of the Year (Alex Caruso and Naz Reid received the most votes}.
We have more from around the international basketball world:
- Who’s the top forward in the NBA? Giannis Antetokounmpo is in a class of his own, according to The Athletic’s Zach Harper. The Bucks superstar holds the Tier 1 level all by himself in “The Bounce’s Top 40 Forwards.” Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero and Zion Williamson ranks as the Tier 2 “Still Elite, Just Not Giannis” level. Heading up the list of six players who round out the Top 10 and start the Tier 3 level is Draymond Green.
- Free agency isn’t what it used to be in the NBA with most star players signing extensions before they ever reach that point. Hoops Hype’s Alberto De Roa examines the decline in free agency’s importance, noting that only one player this summer who changed teams — Myles Turner — secured a contract with at least $100MM in guaranteed money.
- Cui Yongxi – also known as Jacky Cui – is working toward an NBA comeback after tearing his ACL in December with the G League’s Long Island Nets, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. He has been working out in Brooklyn and is now participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages in Los Angeles. The 22-year-old free agent guard had been on a two-way contract and appeared in five games with the Nets but was waived by Brooklyn in December after the injury.