5 dark horse candidates to win the 2022-23 MVP award

3. Julius Randle, New York Knicks

Two years ago, Julius Randle looked like a savior for the New York Knicks. Last season, Knicks fans couldn’t wait to get rid of him and his albatross of a contract. But Randle is all the way back in peak form this season.

The Knicks are back too, which is why Randle deserves dark horse consideration for MVP. New York wouldn’t be in the position they’re in if they hadn’t signed Jalen Brunson in the offseason. But even that transaction would’ve meant little for this year if Randle didn’t reemerge from last year’s slumber.

The 2020-21 Most Improved Player winner has improved his shooting substantially from last year, even though it doesn’t rival two seasons ago. Randle is hitting 35.5 percent from three and 46.8 percent overall, the latter his best in his four seasons in the Big Apple.

For the season, Randle is averaging a career-high 25.4 points and 10.54 rebounds per game. He still turns the ball over a ton and misses a lot of shots, but he makes them too and is one of the more reliable players in the league game-in and game-out, playing in 66 contests this season already.

Randle is a league leader in each win share category and with good reason. It’s a rare night when Randle isn’t putting up a double-double, or at least coming mighty close to it.

The Knicks are making a serious run at the playoffs, just like they did a couple of years ago when they played a memorable playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. Randle was rattled during that series and hadn’t looked the same since before this season rolled around.

But he’s back. Brunson may have been the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, but Randle is this team’s MVP.