PHILADELPHIA - Nikola Jokic is a finalist to win a third straight NBA MVP award, with Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo the players who can stop him.The three leading vote-getters for the league's individual awards were announced Friday and the marquee category featured familiar names.Jokic repeated as MVP last year, with Embiid the runner-up and Antetokounmpo third.
The Denver Nuggets center could now become the first player to win three straight MVP awards since Hall of Famer Larry Bird from 1984-86.Antetokounmpo has also won consecutive MVP awards, in 2019 and 2020, along with an NBA Finals MVP when the Milwaukee Bucks captured the 2021 title.