Stephen Curry explains why he's picking Joel Embiid over Giannis and Nikola Jokic as this season's MVP

Stephen Curry has already made up his mind regarding who this season's MVP should be.

NBA players do not have a say in the Most Valuable Player voting, as that distinction belongs to the media. While all that is well and good, players have a unique perspective as they’re the ones who actually have to go out and compete against each other night in and night out. This gives them a vantage point that goes beyond the counting stats and metrics that are often used to determine who wins the coveted MVP award.

This brings us to Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, who was recently asked which player he thought should win the MVP award this season. His answer? Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.

Took a leap

While the Denver Nuggets sentinel Nikola Jokic and the Milwaukee Bucks ace Giannis Antetokounmpo are worthy candidates to hoist the Michael Jordan Trophy, the two-time MVP winner is convinced that Embiid’s next-level leap this season is deserving of the ultimate recognition.

"I would say, Joel," Curry said. "Any person you pick, their body of work could be compared to Jokić or Giannis. But Joel took a leap that I think a lot of people didn't expect because he was dominant already. That leap turned heads and put Philly in a great position. If I had to pick, it would be him."

Embiid is regularly stuffing the stat sheet at an incredible rate, averaging a league-leading 33.0 points to go with 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.0 steal.

MVP-type numbers

Giannis’ numbers this season are very much worthy of consideration as well. He’s currently averaging 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. Moreover, the Greek Freak has helped lead the Bucks to the best record in the league in a season that has seen teammates Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton miss extended time due to various injuries.

The MVP race this season is the most heated in recent memory and should be one of the most exciting races to watch over the final stretch. With both Embiid and Giannis producing MVP-type numbers, it’s anyone’s award to win.