As the year 2023 draws to a close, it is time to reflect on and acknowledge the exceptional performances in basketball with the assistance of the annual (and fictional) Golden Basketball award.
Similar to the Ballon d’Or in football, the Golden Basketball recognizes outstanding performance throughout the year, encompassing the regular season, playoffs, the NBA’s in-season tournament, and international competition. While each of these events has its own Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, there is no comprehensive way to honor dominance across all of them.
The past 12 months have exemplified the NBA’s evolving schedule, creating a necessity to assess performance across various competitions. We witnessed different MVPs for the regular season (Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid), NBA Finals (Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic), and in-season tournament (Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James). All three are finalists for this year’s Golden Basketball, alongside the best player in this summer’s FIBA World Cup competition.
Interestingly, the 2022 winner Luka Doncic is not among the list of finalists, as his Dallas Mavericks fell short of the play-in tournament after reaching the Western Conference finals the previous year. Doncic became the fourth different winner in as many years after LeBron James dominated the earlier years of the Golden Basketball, clinching the award four times.
Will Embiid or Jokic secure a fifth consecutive win? Let’s take a closer look at this year’s finalists for the prestigious Golden Basketball award.
Honourable mentions
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Throughout 2023, the 2021 Golden Basketball winner performed exceptionally, finishing third in MVP voting and third in the recent MVP straw poll. Nonetheless, an untimely back injury limited him to just three playoff games following the Bucks’ loss against the Miami Heat.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Curry’s career showcased a memorable performance with his 50-point Game 7 outburst, eliminating the Sacramento Kings on the road. Unfortunately, the Warriors’ title defense ended shortly after, depriving Curry of an opportunity to replicate his 2022 heroics on the grandest stages.
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Davis’ dominant paint defense from the previous season carried over to a healthy regular season, with only two missed games. Although his offensive output was inconsistent, Davis shone in the in-season tournament final, amassing 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks as the Lakers secured the inaugural NBA Cup.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
After a historic workload led to Doncic’s 2022 Golden Basketball win, the Mavericks’ downturn in the standings saw them finish 11th in the Western Conference. However, an offseason makeover has rekindled their potential, giving Doncic an opportunity to reclaim the Golden Basketball in 2024.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
With the Celtics boasting the league’s best record, Tatum’s leadership could potentially culminate in a championship for the team. Though hampered by an ankle injury in Boston’s Game 7 loss to Miami in the conference finals, Tatum remains a strong contender.
Finalists
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Butler’s stellar playoff performances, leading the Heat from the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals, showcased his incredible talent. He strategically elevated his scoring output from 22.9 PPG in the regular season to 27.4 in the playoffs, making him a formidable presence.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Notably, Embiid secured his first MVP win, further solidifying his dominance with an improved performance in the following season. Despite suffering a postseason injury, Embiid exhibited moments of MVP-caliber greatness against Boston.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander’s exceptional performance throughout the year earned him fifth place in MVP voting. Additionally, his key role in leading Oklahoma City to the playoffs and a podium finish in the FIBA World Cup signified his invaluable contribution.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Despite injury setbacks in February and March, James remains a force to be reckoned with as one of the NBA’s greatest individual assets. His leadership was evident in the Lakers’ unanticipated run to the conference finals and their subsequent triumph in the in-season tournament.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
The impressive factor with Jokic was his unfaltering performance, particularly during the postseason, when he led Denver to their first title. His innate ability to navigate through defensive strategies, coupled with astounding offensive statistics, makes him a deserving contender.
And the Golden Basketball goes to … Nikola Jokic
Jokic’s achievement as a first-time winner is unquestionably deserved, having added a Finals MVP award to his existing regular-season trophies. Despite a first-round exit in 2022 due to injuries, Jokic’s value across both the regular season and the playoffs made him an undisputed choice.
Past winners include LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, among others, with Jokic becoming the proud recipient of the Golden Basketball for 2023.