The NBA regular season is in its closing stretch. Some individual award races feel relatively clear cut, but this year’s MVP race promises to be one of the most interesting ones in recent memory.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is vying for his third consecutive MVP award, a rare feat in league history. He’s playing like an MVP-caliber player once again, but voters may be weary of his dominance and look another way this year.
Unsurprisingly, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo are also angling for the award. Both players are playing a big role in the success of their teams this season.
Some of the NBA’s best young stars are also a factor in this season’s race. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is having another sensational season, while Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has made the leap to superstar status.
With the 2022-23 NBA regular season in the homestretch, who are five dark horse candidates not getting enough MVP buzz?
Let’s talk about some of the less discussed candidates for the league’s top honors, though. Will any of these players win the award this season? The odds are against them. But they’re having great seasons and have put themselves into position to at least be in consideration at the end of the season, particularly if other candidates fall off or if one of these players have a big surge during the last quarter of the campaign.
Here are five dark horse candidates for MVP honors this season.