Ja Morant the latest NBA star to vouch for Devin Booker’s MVP case
Mar 26, 2022, 1:30 PM | Updated: 2:20 pm
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant scores against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) in the last second of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Phoenix. The Grizzlies won 114-113. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
NBA.com’s weekly MVP ladder updated on Friday, and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was not included in the top five.
That caught the attention of Memphis Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant, who was placed sixth on the list while Booker was seventh.
Morant commented “still no dbook?” on a Twitter post that included the top five, and he continued to show his support for the Suns’ star by tweeting his agreeance on a post that begged the question of whether Booker is a top-three candidate.
The Booker for MVP noise has increased recently as he has scored at a blistering rate en route to Phoenix clinching the best record in the NBA this week. Booker has scored 32.7 points per contest on 55.4% shooting with 6.7 assists over his last seven outings.
He is ninth in the league in scoring average this season at 26.3.
true. https://t.co/5buZGmJJUT
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) March 25, 2022
Pro Basketball Hall of Fame member Isiah Thomas brought up Booker’s MVP candidacy earlier in the week, arguing that being the leading scorer on the league’s top team is part of the “criteria” for the award.
Booker responded by saying the criteria changes based on the player’s name, a dig at the subjectivity of the voting and being overlooked.
Appreicate that IT but the “#criteria” changes depending on players name https://t.co/Zug1Plc8sq
— Book (@DevinBook) March 22, 2022
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Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard posted on his Instagram story that he agreed with Booker.
Currently, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is the favorite for the award via the NBA MVP ladder and betting odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Denver Nuggets big Nikola Jokic is second on both lists and Giannis Antetokounmpo is third. Booker has the sixth best betting odds at +550, as he is also trailing Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Morant.
Five of the last seven league MVP’s have been the top scorers on teams with the best record, according to StatMuse, although Jokic was an exception last season.
