76ers' Joel Embiid Tops Nikola Jokić, Giannis in ESPN's 2023 NBA MVP Straw Poll 3.0

The 2022-23 NBA MVP race is shaping up to be the closest in league history.

A straw poll of MVP voters conducted by ESPN's Tim Bontemps revealed just a two-point total margin between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić as we head into the season's final two weeks.

Embiid received 40 first-place votes compared to Jokić's 42 but came out ahead on total points thanks to his 45-39 advantage in second-place votes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only other player to receive first-place consideration but was a clear third in the rankings.

The closest MVP vote margin in history was 22 points, when Magic Johnson bested Charles Barkley in 1989-90. Media members took over voting for MVP beginning with the 1980-81 season.

There has not been a separation of less than 100 points in the final voting tally since Steve Nash eclipsed Shaquille O'Neal by 34 points in 2004-05.

This year's MVP race has become one of the ugliest in history, with pundits and fans pushing their own personal narratives over celebrating the brilliant seasons of the contenders. Embiid and Jokić, who are headed toward being first and second in voting for the third straight season, have been the subject of most debate.

Some have pointed to the historical significance of Jokić winning a third straight MVP, a feat neither Michael Jordan nor LeBron James have pulled off. They've also pointed out Jokić has yet to lead the Nuggets to an NBA Finals, conveniently ignoring Embiid is yet to reach a conference finals.

ESPN's Kendrick Perkins even pointed to Jokić's whiteness garnering him favorability among the voting pool. ESPN later issued a retraction after Perkins falsely claimed 80 percent of MVP voters are white.

"I think this year unfortunately has just taken a really ugly, nasty turn in the MVP conversation, and I think it's really turned a lot of people off, including [Jokić]," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters last week.