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There is no shortage of MVP candidates for the 2022-23 NBA season, from players who have won it before (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant) to players who are trying to win it for the first time (Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, Devin Booker).
Is there someone else who could win MVP?
And to illustrate just how wide open the NBA is this season, our USA TODAY Sports five-person panel picked five different teams from the East and four different teams from the West to reach the conference finals — and four different teams to win the NBA championship.
Could the NBA have a different championship for the sixth consecutive season? Can anyone stop Golden State? Are the Los Angeles Clippers going to win the their first title in franchise history?
ANALYSIS: East vs. West will feature contenders challenged from all angles
HARDWARE: Who wins NBA MVP? Nikola Jokic could enter rare air
TOP STORYLINES: Who can dethrone Warriors in West? More Nets dysfunction?
NEW SEASON: Five NBA players we can’t wait to see back on the court
Here’s a look at USA TODAY Sports’ predictions for the NBA season — from conference finalists to NBA champion to individual awards:
Scooby Axson, USA TODAY
East finalists: Milwaukee-Philadelphia
West finalists: Los Angeles Clippers-Golden State
NBA Finals: Milwaukee-Los Angeles Clippers
Champion: Milwaukee
MVP: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Orlando
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Miami
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole, Golden State
Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY
East finalists: Milwaukee-Boston
West finalists: Golden State-Memphis
NBA Finals: Milwaukee-Golden State
Champion: Milwaukee
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Orlando
Coach of the Year: Ty Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Most Improved Player: Zion Williamson, New Orleans
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole, Golden State
Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
East finalists: Milwaukee-Boston
West finalists: Golden State-Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Finals: Golden State-Milwaukee
Champion: Golden State
MVP: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia
Rookie of the Year: Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana
Coach of the Year: Ty Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Most Improved Player: Zion Williamson, New Orleans
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Miami
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole, Golden State
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
East finalists: Miami-Brooklyn
West finalists: Golden State-Phoenix
NBA Finals: Miami-Golden State
Champion: Miami
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Rookie of the Year: Keegan Murray, Sacramento
Coach of the Year: Ty Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Miami
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole, Golden State
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
East finalists: Milwaukee-Philadelphia
West finalists: Golden State-Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Finals: Milwaukee-Los Angeles Clippers
Champion: Los Angeles Clippers
MVP: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Smith, Houston
Coach of the Year: Ty Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Most Improved Player: R.J. Barrett, New York
Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Sixth Man of the Year: Christian Wood, Dallas
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