Steph Curry reveals his pick for NBA MVP

The only unanimous MVP in NBA history, Stephen Curry made it clear which way he would lean when selecting this year's Most Valuable Player award if he had a vote.

Per Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, Curry is backing Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid to win his first MVP award this June.

"Joel took a leap that I think a lot of people didn't expect because he was dominant already... If I had to pick, it would be him," Curry told Haynes.

Embiid's numbers back up Curry's assertion. A year after he led the league with a career-best 30.6 points per game, Embiid one-upped himself this season and is averaging 33 points per game while shooting a career-high 54.2 percent from the field on the most field goal attempts (20.2 per game) of his career. He's also averaging 10.2 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks and one steal per game.

Oddsmakers also agree with the two-time MVP. Per Oddschecker, Embiid (-190) is the favorite to win MVP. Nikola Jokic (+260) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (+600) are the only other two players with a realistic shot of winning the award this season.

Jokic would become the first player since Larry Bird from 1984-86 to win three consecutive MVP awards while Antetokounmpo is seeking his third non-consecutive MVP award. He won back-to-back trophies in 2019 and 2020.

Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to the NBA's best record (56-22) and is averaging a career-high 31.1 points per game while adding 11.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

Jokic is nearly averaging a triple-double and Haynes reminds us he would become the first center to achieve the feat. Guards Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook are the only other two players to average a triple-double for an entire season. Jokic is also the most efficient he's ever been in shooting 63.4 percent from the field while averaging 24.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game.

All three contenders are worthy of the award and with a week left in the regular season, there still doesn't appear to be a consensus on who should receive the honor. Curry made everyone's job a lot easier in 2016 and by throwing his support behind Embiid, can maybe help shut this year's MVP debate, too.