How Did the 2021 NBA MVP Voting Unfold and Who Nearly Won?

I still remember watching the 2021 NBA season unfold with that familiar mix of anticipation and skepticism—the kind of feeling you get when you know greatness is within reach but the path is anything but guaranteed. The MVP race that year was particularly fascinating because it wasn't just about stats; it was about narratives, resilience, and those moments when a player carries their team through thick and thin. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've seen how MVP voting can sometimes feel predictable, but 2021 was different. It had that "nabibitin lang pero may rason ang lahat" vibe—a phrase I often use when things fall just short of expectations, yet you know there's a deeper story behind it all.

Nikola Jokic ultimately took home the trophy, and honestly, he deserved it. The Denver Nuggets' big man put up staggering numbers: 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game while shooting 56.6% from the field. But what really stood out to me was how he elevated his team despite key injuries, much like how a leader "dinala na rin tayo niyan sa championship"—a reference to those players who repeatedly carry their squads to the brink of glory. Jokic's consistency was remarkable; he missed only one game all season, and his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 31.3 led the league by a wide margin. I've always believed that MVP candidates should be judged on their ability to make everyone around them better, and Jokic did exactly that. His playmaking as a center revolutionized how we view the position, and his impact went beyond the box score.

That said, Joel Embiid came incredibly close—closer than many casual fans might realize. Embiid finished with 28.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and his defensive presence was a game-changer for the Philadelphia 76ers. In my view, if he hadn't missed 21 games due to injury, the race might have swung in his favor. The voting totals tell the story: Jokic received 91 first-place votes, while Embiid got 62. That gap feels significant, but when you dig deeper, you see how narratives shaped the outcome. Embiid's season had that "nabibitin" quality—so close to perfection, yet hampered by circumstances beyond his control. I remember thinking how frustrating it must have been for Sixers fans, watching their star dominate when healthy but knowing those missed games cost him the top spot.

Then there's Stephen Curry, who finished third in the voting. His April 2021 performance was nothing short of legendary—he averaged 37.1 points per game that month and single-handedly kept the Golden State Warriors in playoff contention. As a longtime Curry admirer, I’d argue he had the most explosive individual stretch of any candidate. But MVP voting tends to favor season-long consistency over bursts of brilliance, and Curry's slower start likely hurt his chances. Still, his 32.0 points per game average for the season reminded everyone why he's a two-time MVP. It's moments like these that make me appreciate how the award balances longevity with peak performance—sometimes you can be brilliant but still fall short because the competition is just that fierce.

Looking back, the 2021 MVP race was a testament to how much context matters in these discussions. Jokic's win wasn't just about his historic stat line; it was about his unwavering reliability in a chaotic season. Embiid's near-miss highlighted the fine margins in these contests—health, timing, and even voter fatigue can sway outcomes. And Curry's resurgence showed that legacy players can never be counted out. In the end, I think the voters got it right, but I'll always wonder what might have been if Embiid had stayed healthy or if Curry's early-season struggles hadn't happened. That's the beauty of NBA awards—they're not just about numbers, but about the stories we tell years later.