ATL - 2024-25 Season - Luka+ for AD+

[FrieAaron]

Obviously I'm a homer but decades from now voters will rightly look like idiots that Giannis somehow only got 2 MVPs. From what I've been seeing online it's already considered a two-man race between Jokic and SGA.

[Ron Swanson]

I love Giannis but I'm sorry, you guys are nuts for poo-pooing the kind of MVP season SGA is having. Dude is an absolute monster and will be every bit deserving of the award if he manages to even remotely keep this kind of pace up. This race if anything is honestly making me realize how dogmatic and toxic Jokic fandom has become.

[ReasonablySober]

As long as Jokic is healthy and playing he's the only MVP candidate.

[Plossum]

Yeah I mean I love Giannis but SGA and Jokic are having amazing seasons too. It wouldn’t be some travesty if one or both polled more MVP votes.

[MickeyDavis]

Wagner back after missing 20 games.

[humanrefutation]

Dame not selected as an ASG Starter. Backcourt is Brunson and Mitchell.

Giannis named as an ASG Starter. 9th straight selection to the ASG as a starter. He's joined in the frontcourt by Tatum and KAT.

[MickeyDavis]

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[drone3]

LeBron starting ASG at 40 is unbelievable

[ReasonablySober]

Spurs with a scary blowout of the Pacers.

[MickeyDavis]

Shaq is an idiot

[Matches Malone]

Horst needs to call up the Blazers again and see if we can get Rob. Only fair we win a ring with a former Celtic now.

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[raferfenix]

Jimmy's behavior sure makes it seem like it's only about the money.

Maybe that's why he's supposedly so against going to Memphis if they straight up only want him as a hired gun with no interest in an extension.

Memphis has the combination of draft capital and midtier salaries -- players such as Marcus Smart ($20 million), Luke Kennard ($9 million) and John Konchar ($6 million) -- to get deals done.

The Grizzlies are lurking in Butler trade talks, sources said, and have been in contact with the Heat during the process. Rival league executives believe Memphis is trying to combine a talent influx with offloading some future salary so it can facilitate a contract extension for Jaren Jackson Jr. as early as this summer.

Butler, meanwhile, has made it known that he could opt out of his contract this summer and seek free agency. Sources have theorized that if the Grizzlies can acquire him for a playoff run and also free cap space this summer, that's where their interests might lie.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43537574/nba-trade-deadline-intel-suns-bucks-most-desperate-make-deal

[Daver]

Shaq is an idiot

Yep heard his rant on behalf of butler wow he came off sounding like a pure jagoff with his comments.Barkley n kenny smith nailed it headon

[Profound23]

Yeah I mean I love Giannis but SGA and Jokic are having amazing seasons too. It wouldn’t be some travesty if one or both polled more MVP votes.

If he were in almost any other city Giannis has at least one more MVP. If Boston, NY, LA, Chicago he has two more.

I'm not discounting SGA or Joker. It's not a travesty if Giannis doesn't win MVP, it's a travesty they haven't even really considered him for another one since 2020. You can't tell me it's voter fatigue with Joker being considered for #4 with no issues.

[RogerMurdock]

Shaq is an idiot

For those who don't know:

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[RogerMurdock]

Jokic is awesome, no doubt about it. HOFer right now. There's this small part of me, though, that wonders if he stat pads or something. I mean, he's constantly putting up lines of like 40/20/20 or something insane. Nobody comes close to the numbers he puts up on a daily basis. In the meantime, he has like a 2-inch vertical and whenever I see him play (which is admittedly not often), he basically stands around the free throw line holding the ball above his head with one hand.

Again, he's incredible. Arguably the best player of the last decade. But the video games stats he puts up every day seem weird. Seems like other top stars like Giannis could do that, too, but they just don't.

[skbucks1985]

I love Giannis but I'm sorry, you guys are nuts for poo-pooing the kind of MVP season SGA is having. Dude is an absolute monster and will be every bit deserving of the award if he manages to even remotely keep this kind of pace up. This race if anything is honestly making me realize how dogmatic and toxic Jokic fandom has become.

I honestly think the race is maybe not all but over, but I don't know if there's anything SGA or Giannis or anyone can do to take it from Jokic. Jokic had a clear lead a month ago when the Nuggets were flirting with the play-in. Now they've gotten their ish together, having won 12 of their last 15. Unless the Nuggets backslide or Jokic misses a bunch of games, he's got an MVP stranglehold.

[Brewhoopfan]

Jokic is awesome, no doubt about it. HOFer right now. There's this small part of me, though, that wonders if he stat pads or something. I mean, he's constantly putting up lines of like 40/20/20 or something insane. Nobody comes close to the numbers he puts up on a daily basis. In the meantime, he has like a 2-inch vertical and whenever I see him play (which is admittedly not often), he basically stands around the free throw line holding the ball above his head with one hand.

Again, he's incredible. Arguably the best player of the last decade. But the video games stats he puts up every day seem weird. Seems like other top stars like Giannis could do that, too, but they just don't.

He's a stats cheat code. Who is the last guy to dominate offensively like he does from the high post? Chamberlain? Operating from the high post, opponents have to guard the whole floor, and the Nuggets run actions everywhere to take advantage of his passing. You can't double him because his passing will kill you, so he's always playing 1 on 1 offensively. Most of Giannis's assists come from drawing an extra defender, while Jokic just picks teams apart. That's no knock on Jokic, and Malone has done a great job of maximizing his skills. He truly plays a position/role like no other in the league. Beyond that, what truly sets him apart IMO is he is one tough SOB willing set screens, rebound, and play a physical style.

[drew881]

Yeah I mean I love Giannis but SGA and Jokic are having amazing seasons too. It wouldn’t be some travesty if one or both polled more MVP votes.

If he were in almost any other city Giannis has at least one more MVP. If Boston, NY, LA, Chicago he has two more.

I'm not discounting SGA or Joker. It's not a travesty if Giannis doesn't win MVP, it's a travesty they haven't even really considered him for another one since 2020. You can't tell me it's voter fatigue with Joker being considered for #4 with no issues.

How many MVPs did Shaq win? And he was in LA. I think there is a good comparison here with Giannis. Both players can dominate but both players are also flawed (free throws) and not as multi dimensional (can’t shoot), as other players. Both players also get criticized for their reliance on brute force.

Duncan had more MVPs than Shaq from a smaller market, was a more complete player, and one that writers would rather vote in. Jokic is getting g the same treatment (with added bonus of being white).

[FrieAaron]

Shaq had another teammate who had a few MVPs himself. Literally the reason given over and over for Giannis not getting a third was he hasn't won enough and now we're talking about Jokic winning his 4th.