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NBA MVP Ladder: The Official 2021-2022 NBA MVP Ballot

By Michael Shearer

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on January 30, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on January 30, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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NBA MVP Ladder, NBA MVP Ballot
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks past Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, NBA MVP Ladder: The Official 2021-2022 NBA MVP Ballot, NBA MVP Ladder: The Official 2021-2022 NBA MVP Ballot. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

NBA MVP Second Place: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP coming off a historic Finals campaign and is playing maybe the best basketball of his career… and he’s in second? That goes to show how stacked the league has been at the top.

The Greek Freak has a legitimate claim to the throne this year. He’s going to finish second on the scoring leaderboards behind Embiid (LeBron’s injury prevented him from playing enough games to qualify), and he’s getting some stray votes for Defensive Player of the Year again (although, to these eyes, he hasn’t quite been at that level this season).

Giannis might be the best two-way basketball player on Earth. His passing has improved, and he’s second in virtually every advanced metric out there. His 32.1 PER would be the highest of all time (if it weren’t for Jokic’s 32.9 this season).

The big man is a battering ram, constantly slamming into an opponent’s defense until their walls break down. No superstar tries harder than Giannis, and he is probably the most widely-liked player in the NBA today by neutral fanbases.

Although he’s just a 29 percent three-point shooter, he’s proven he’s not afraid to hit jumpers late in games. His free throw percentage has climbed to 72 percent, so fouling him is gifting Milwaukee points. He’s even averaging his lowest turnover rate since 2018-2019.

Putting Giannis second on the ballot is not an attempt to diminish the Greek Freak’s play this season. He’s having an incredible year, and the Bucks are the consensus favorite to emerge from the East. But one light has shone just a little bit brighter this season.